Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced two major initiatives to help New York City maintain its position as media capital of the world in the digital age: the launch of Cornell NYC Tech’s degree program in Connective Media and the opening of the Made in NY Media Center by IFP in DUMBO. Connective Media is the first degree program to be offered by the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute at Cornell Tech, a two-year masters degree designed to train the entrepreneurial engineers and technologists desperately needed in the media sector. Graduates of this dual degree program will receive a degree from Cornell University and from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Made in NY Media Center by IFP is an incubator space for storytellers, creative professionals and entrepreneurs across multiple disciplines to collaborate and create new business opportunities through education, entrepreneurship and content creation. It is the result of a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation as the latest step to bring innovation to the local media, digital and entertainment industries. The Mayor made the announcement at the Made in NY Media Center, located at 30 John Street in DUMBO.
“We can’t take our position as the world’s media capital for granted, because the way media is produced and consumed is changing dramatically,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Media creators and tech companies have a lot to gain from a strong, collaborative working relationship – and New York City will reap the benefits of that partnership in the form of job creation and global competitiveness.”
“Mayor Bloomberg’s vision for expanding applied sciences and engineering higher education in New York is rapidly coming to life even before Cornell and the Technion’s campus on Roosevelt Island opens,” Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel said. “New York City is a global media capital, and this new degree program will help ensure that this industry will remain an engine of the City’s economy.”
“The Connective Media program we are announcing today is the first of the dual degree programs to be offered at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute at Cornell NYC Tech, the innovative collaboration between Cornell and the Technion,” said Daniel Huttenlocher, Dean of Cornell NYC Tech. “This novel program addresses the huge need for more tech talent in the media-related businesses that play such an important role in New York City.”
“The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute is organized around hubs focused on key New York City industries, and there is no better place to start than in the media space,” said Craig Gotsman, Director of the JTCII. “We are aware of the critical need for deep tech talent to lead the digital transformation within the traditional and new media companies and are proud to be working with many of them in educating a new generation of tech professionals in this space.”
“As we re-imagine the media industry, one of our big obstacles is a shortage of skilled and experienced technologists who have deep technical expertise and also understand our industry,” said Philip Wiser, Chief Technology Officer at Hearst Corporation. “That’s why we are excited to work with Cornell Tech on the new Connective Media program. The campus’ close collaboration with industry in tackling pressing problems ensures that students are prepared to have a powerful impact on our future.”
The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute is now accepting applications for a first class of students to begin studies in the fall of 2014. The Connective Media program is aimed at meeting the growing need for technologists in media-related industries, to respond to and drive the digital transformation of publishing, advertising, news and information, and entertainment. The Connective Media degree combines tech
