The Media Council staged another Next Big Thing forum April 7--the second in our new event series showcasing digital entrepreneurs and media startups. The founders behind the five companies on the bill -- Ad.ly, Klout, MessageParty, Mixpo, and SpotOn -- gave great presentations, and the questions from the crowd were typically astute and on-point. But one of the best parts about the evening was seeing so many past presenters from previous Next Big Thing forums, and catching up with where they're at.

For our valued Media Council members, we are offering an exclusive 20% discount to attend the Activate New York Summit. Activate is the Guardian newspaper's platform for leaders who are working with the Web and its associated technologies to create a more connective and collaborative planet. On April 28, 2011 we're bringing the first international Activate Summit to The Paley Center for Media in New York.

Whether or not social media and the Web have played a causal role in Tunisia (or in Moldova or Iran before it) is a matter for historians. What's clear is that these new modes of communicating, organizing, and disseminating information have disrupted and recast the way the public, the press, and the state relate to one another.

"I believe firmly that the future of our industry is entrepreneurial." That's how Jeff Jarvis put it at the 2010 International Council meeting back in November. In that spirit, the Paley Center for Media is launching a new event series called the Next Big Thing to showcase digital startups in the media space.

We're still a month shy of the New Year, but I think it's safe to say that WikiLeaks is the story of 2010 for those of us interested in the evolution of the news industry.

We're just over a week out from IC2010 NYC, putting the finishing touches on the agenda for what promises to be a high-protein, low-carb three days of discussion and debate. And we're particularly excited about our Next Big Thing session on Nov. 18.

We're just about three weeks away from our 2010 International Council meeting here at The Paley Center for Media in New York City, and we're excited to share some highlights from the fantastic program we're putting together.

We've been hearing a lot lately about the "battle for the living room," and the increasing competition among new entrants looking to plant flags on an old-media beachhead: the home television set. And while much of the discussion has focused on the main combatants Apple, Google, Netflix and Amazon, Boxee is one to watch--and co-founder/CEO Avner Ronen is relishing the company's underdog role.

Scott Kurnit is back in the game. Last week, the angel investor, tech entrepreneur and Paley Center trustee heralded a new venture with a cryptic tweet: "Out of stealth and having a ball as CEO. I love this thing." That thing is called AdKeeper, which Kurnit unveiled Oct. 11 after operating sub rosa for the past several months.