Ben Scott (Policy Expert)
Encyclopedia
Ben Scott is Policy Advisor for Innovation at the US Department of State, where he works at the intersection of technology and foreign policy. In a small team of advisors to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
, he works to help steward the 21'st Century Statecraft agenda with a focus on technology policy, social media and development. Prior to joining the State Department, for six years he led the Washington office for Free Press
, the largest non-profit organization in the US dealing exclusively with media and communications policy. As policy director for Free Press, he headed a team of lawyers, researchers, and advocates, and directed a public interest policy agenda to expand affordable access to an open Internet and to foster more public service journalism. He was frequently called as an expert witness before the US Congress. Before joining Free Press, he worked as a legislative aide handling telecommunications policy for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds a PhD in communications from the University of Illinois. He is the author of several scholarly articles on American journalism history and the politics of media regulation as well as co-editor of two books.
. He has worked as a legislative telecommunications policy fellow for Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and as the Policy Director for Free Press
, a national media reform organization. While at Free Press Ben lead a number of initiatives and was described as a "driving force for 'net neutrality.'" While at Free Press, his expertise was often sought by the press and Ben would regularly called on to testify before the United States Senate
and United States House of Representatives
.
In May, 2010 Ben left Free Press to become Policy Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. State Department. He is one of a small team of advisory to the Secretary of State and has been described as a key player working towards 21st Century Statecraft. As a respected media scholar, Ben focuses on technology policy, social media and development.
. In 2010 he received is Doctorate from the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
, he works to help steward the 21'st Century Statecraft agenda with a focus on technology policy, social media and development. Prior to joining the State Department, for six years he led the Washington office for Free Press
Free Press (organization)
Free Press is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, national organization working to reform the media in the United States.It was founded in 2002 by media scholar Robert W. McChesney, The Nation contributor John Nichols, and Josh Silver, current CEO of the Democracy Fund, a foundation challenging the influence...
, the largest non-profit organization in the US dealing exclusively with media and communications policy. As policy director for Free Press, he headed a team of lawyers, researchers, and advocates, and directed a public interest policy agenda to expand affordable access to an open Internet and to foster more public service journalism. He was frequently called as an expert witness before the US Congress. Before joining Free Press, he worked as a legislative aide handling telecommunications policy for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds a PhD in communications from the University of Illinois. He is the author of several scholarly articles on American journalism history and the politics of media regulation as well as co-editor of two books.
Background and education
Ben Scott grew up in Canyon, TexasCanyon, Texas
Canyon is a city in Randall County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,875 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randall County. It is the home of West Texas A&M University and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is some twelve miles east of Canyon...
. He has worked as a legislative telecommunications policy fellow for Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and as the Policy Director for Free Press
Free Press (organization)
Free Press is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, national organization working to reform the media in the United States.It was founded in 2002 by media scholar Robert W. McChesney, The Nation contributor John Nichols, and Josh Silver, current CEO of the Democracy Fund, a foundation challenging the influence...
, a national media reform organization. While at Free Press Ben lead a number of initiatives and was described as a "driving force for 'net neutrality.'" While at Free Press, his expertise was often sought by the press and Ben would regularly called on to testify before the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
In May, 2010 Ben left Free Press to become Policy Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. State Department. He is one of a small team of advisory to the Secretary of State and has been described as a key player working towards 21st Century Statecraft. As a respected media scholar, Ben focuses on technology policy, social media and development.
Academic career
Ben Scott is a graduate of Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. In 2010 he received is Doctorate from the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
.
Books
- 2005. Robert W. McChesneyRobert W. McChesneyRobert Waterman McChesney is an American professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication. His work concentrates on the history and political economy of communication, emphasizing the role media play in democratic...
, Russell Newman and Ben Scott, editors. The Future of Media. New York: Seven Stories Press.. - 2004. Robert W. McChesneyRobert W. McChesneyRobert Waterman McChesney is an American professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication. His work concentrates on the history and political economy of communication, emphasizing the role media play in democratic...
& Ben Scott, editors. Our Unfree Press: 100 Years of Radical Media Criticism. New York: The New Press.
Articles
- 2011: Alec RossAlec Ross (innovator)Alec Ross is Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a role created for him that blends technology with diplomacy...
and Ben Scott. 21st Century Statecraft. NATO Review. - 2006: Sascha MeinrathSascha MeinrathSascha Meinrath is the Director of the New America Foundation's "Open Technology Initiative" and heads the "Internet in a Suitcase" effort to create ad-hoc mesh wireless technologies...
and Ben Scott. Community Internet: Why Should Arts and Culture Funders Care. Grantmakers in the Arts Reader. - 2003: Ben Scott and Sascha Meinrath. Media Reform Explodes onto American Political Scene. Public i. Vol. 3(10).