Jeffrey Cole is a media analyst and Research Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. He is the Founder and Director of Center for the Digital Future and the World Internet Project, the longest-running study of the impact of digital technology on users and non-users.
Cole is most known for his work studying evolving global issues in information technology and emerging media, particularly in the context of media and communications. He has served as an adviser on digital strategies for White House staffs in several administrations, government agencies, NGOs, and corporations.
At the announcement of the creation of the World Internet Project, former Vice President Al Gore commended Cole as a "visionary who provided valuable insights to the public on understanding the impact of media". He has also collaborated with White House staff during both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.
Cole has been a featured keynote speaker at conferences, focusing on the intersection of media and technology, in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. During his tenure at UCLA, he was a two-time recipient of UCLA's Distinguished Teaching Award. He also received the 2023 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for contributions to creating digital strategies.
Cole was a member of the Executive Committee at Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and serves on the Investment Committee at Global Disruption Fund identifying innovative companies.
Education
Cole received his undergraduate degrees and graduate training at UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Arts degree, followed by a PhD in Mass Communication and History. He was the first person to earn a PhD in Communication at UCLA and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
Career
Cole began his career in the 1980s and taught Communication Studies at UCLA.
In 1999, Cole founded the World Internet Project (WIP), which conducts a long-term examination of the impact of computer and Internet technology across more than 35 countries.
From 1997 to 2001, Cole served as a member of the Executive Committee and the founding governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) Interactive Media Peer Group.
In 2016, Cole was one of the founders of the Global Disruption Fund (GDF), a technology investment fund based in Australia.
Since 2017, Cole has written more than 100 columns for the Center for the Digital Future primarily focusing on topics such as disruption, media, entertainment, and technology.
From 1993 to 2004, Cole served as a Director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy within the Anderson Graduate School of Management while also serving as a faculty member during this period. In 2004, he joined the USC Annenberg School for Communication, assuming the role of Research Professor, and concurrently, has been fulfilling the responsibilities of Director at the Center for the Digital Future.
Media
Commentary and analysis by Cole on technology, the digital realm, and the disruption caused by COVID-19 have been featured in media publications, podcasts, and interviews. At the 2023 CinemaCon, he emphasized the enduring importance of theatrical movie experiences, highlighting their significance in achieving billion-dollar box office earnings. In discussions about the Paramount's president of international theatrical distribution, he acknowledged the strength of the theatrical industry while noting the challenges faced by streaming platforms.
Cole is highlighted in an MIT Sloan Management Review feature on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence that both the United States and other countries have been slow in developing regulatory frameworks, not only for AI but also for areas like social networks. He was also featured on The Signpost, discussing the internet's impact on news where he highlighted how technology has shifted advantage and control from traditional news sources to empower citizens. In the Chicago Tribune, he emphasized evolving internet communication patterns and growing privacy concerns, with a particular focus on corporate monitoring, which he viewed as a more significant concern than government surveillance. In a New York Times article about internet users and their social interactions, he noted that people don't sacrifice their personal lives for online activities revealing that a significant portion of the population remains resistant to adopting online technologies.