The overall goal of the Communications and Society Program is to promote integrated, thoughtful, values-based decision making in the fields of communications, media, and information policy. Follow us on Twitter @aspencs.
Charlie Firestone
Executive Director
Charlie Firestone joined C&S as executive director in 1989. Since then, the program has focused on the implications of communications and information technologies for leadership; the impact of new technologies on democratic, economic and social institutions; and the development of new communications policy models and options for the public interest. Read more»
Connecting the Edges
The 2012 Roundtable on Institutional Innovation convened leaders to explore how organizations can stay atop today’s constant technological advancement. In the current economic environment, growth and underemployment are two outstanding national, indeed international, problems. Read More
Integrating Diplomacy and Social Media: A Report of the First Annual Aspen Institute Dialogue on Diplomacy and Technology
Advances in social media and the wave of citizen involvement in both internal and external state affairs has heightened the need to take a closer look at how communications technologies can advance national interests. The digital disruption has come to many arenas. Diplomacy is just the latest to engage it. Read More
Road to Government 2.0: Technological Problems and Solutions for Transparency, Efficiency and Participation
The 2012 FOCAS convened 38 leaders and developers from government, media and communications enterprises, localities, consumer/user groups and academia to define the problems of open and innovative governance and develop solutions. Read More


