Comments on: France To Internet: G8 Will Talk To You, For a Price http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/france-to-internet-g8-will-talk-to-you-for-a-price/ Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Kris Tuttle http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/france-to-internet-g8-will-talk-to-you-for-a-price/#comment-626001 Mon, 23 May 2011 17:22:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=338756#comment-626001 The strange thing about events like this is that senior officials in the government have long had access to smart and successful people who know quite a bit about this topic. They are “outsiders” though so the government fails to get their input. This event is an attempt to mix together some ideas but it’s short (two days) and the structure of the “exchange” and follow up is yet to be seen. FWIW I’m an independent technology analyst and writer (on GigaOM Pro) going to the event and plan to ask questions and get an accurate view of what transpires. Hopefully with pictures and video to go along with it.

]]> By: Olivier Fleurot http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/france-to-internet-g8-will-talk-to-you-for-a-price/#comment-621255 Tue, 03 May 2011 14:21:20 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=338756#comment-621255 As one of the organizers of the e-G8 Forum, I would like to make a few comments regarding the points you raised.

> “Many attendees are being asked to pay up for their chance to speak out” ?

One should make a clear difference between speakers and sponsors. Speakers are invited individually as experts to take part in one of e-G8 Forum plenaries or workshop discussions. Just like at the World Economic Forum or similar high-level conferences, there is no direct link between a possible sponsorship and speaking opportunities. Speakers are being chosen based on criteria of quality and competence. These include CEOs of global technology corporations, executives in the media, advertising, music and entertainment industries; technology pioneers, investors, young entrepreneurs, bloggers, and thought leaders, researchers, academics and journalists who will moderate panels or cover the event extensively. The e-G8 forum is financed by private companies and gets no funding from any government.

> Do e-G8 Forum sponsors automatically get access to the G8 Heads of State and government summit in Deauville?

To be sure, being a sponsor does not imply in any way being a member of the delegation of CEOs that will go to the G8 Heads of State and government summit in Deauville. Nothing has been decided regarding the way e-G8 representatives will convey the Forum’s outcome to the Deauville G8 Heads of State and government meeting. And this will obviously not be decided by us.

> Why has Publicis been asked to organize the e-G8 Forum?

Maurice Lévy, as a recognized communication expert, as CEO of a global company that has heavily invested in digital marketing and communication, was asked by President Sarkozy to organize this forum. Publicis Groupe is renowned for producing global events such as the World Economic Forum sessions in Davos, China, India, Latin America, Africa and the Middle east, or for creating and organizing events like the Monaco Media Forum. the Abu Dhabi Media Summit and many more.

Best regards,

Olivier Fleurot
CEO, MSLGroup, a Publicis Groupe company

]]> By: Eric http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/france-to-internet-g8-will-talk-to-you-for-a-price/#comment-621209 Tue, 03 May 2011 09:52:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=338756#comment-621209 He called it lobbying, you called it bribery, I call it extortion. You want a chance to have the appearance of participation in your own future you have to pay – the fact that the agenda and announcements will have been pre-written and released has nothing to do with it.

]]> By: orion242 http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/france-to-internet-g8-will-talk-to-you-for-a-price/#comment-621139 Tue, 03 May 2011 00:41:40 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=338756#comment-621139 >Something painted as an open exchange of ideas on the future of the online world is sounding more and more like a traditional opportunity for lobbying

You call it lobbying, I call it bribery.

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