Both Hearst and Baer to Bring their Extensive Backgrounds in Traditional and Emergent Media to FORA.tv’s Rapidly-Growing Audience
SAN FRANCISCO– LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire –FORA.tv, widely regarded as “the thinking-man’s YouTube,” today announced new Board Members William R. Hearst III and Donald Baer. Both Hearst and Baer bring vastly extensive backgrounds in traditional and emergent media, television, business strategy, politics, journalism and communications to FORA.tv’s Board. Together they will guide management in a variety of initiatives surrounding FORA.tv’s rapidly-growing business, including strategic council, content development, partnership development and fundraising.
Hearst, who has invested personally in FORA.tv, has a distinguished background that’s made him one of the most influential figures in modern media. In addition to maintaining his role as Director of both the Hearst Corporation and Hearst-Argyle Television, Hearst sits on the boards of an impressive array of leading technology companies. He’s a Fellow of the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science and a trustee of The Hearst Foundation, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, California Academy of Sciences and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. A graduate of Harvard, Hearst was the Editor and Publisher of the San Francisco Examiner for 11 years and is an affiliated partner of the highly-respected venture capitalist firm, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers.
“FORA.tv is a continuous online gathering of world-renowned speakers, authors, researchers, inventors and artists discussing timely topics from politics and rain forest ecology, to theology to mathematics. At the same time it’s a place where the audience engages in an equally powerful digital conversation,” said Hearst. “Being named to their Board is a commitment to help grow an organization that’s having a very positive impact on its users, its content providers, and maybe even the planet.”
Joining Hearst on FORA.tv’s Board as Vice Chairman is Donald Baer. Baer is best known for serving as President Bill Clinton’s White House Director of Strategic Planning and Communications, as well as serving as the President’s Chief Speechwriter. He’s a celebrated journalist whose career has found him serving as an Assistant Managing Editor and national political correspondent for U.S. News & World Report. After his time at the White House, Baer was the Senior Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development for Discovery Communications, the home of the Discovery Channel. Most recently, Baer’s been named Worldwide Vice Chairman of Burson-Marsteller and Chairman of Penn, Schoen & Berland, affiliated leading strategy and communications firms that are part of WPP.
“FORA.tv is transforming the way great ideas and important thinkers enlighten and entertain audiences all over the world,” said Baer. “They’ve created a new force to disprove skeptics who say the Internet cannot be about thoughtful, inspiring and provocative media and I’m very passionate about being a part of their effort.”
“Hearst and Baer are true visionaries with an unparalleled level of knowledge and experience across a range of media fields,” said Brian Gruber, FORA.tv founder and CEO. “As FORA.tv continues to be an invaluable and relevant media resource, both Hearst and Baer will be very instrumental in driving the company’s growth.”
FORA.tv is based in San Francisco, California.
About FORA.tv
FORA.tv (www.fora.tv) is the leading provider of online video content focused on discourse, discussions and debates surrounding the world’s most interesting political, social and cultural issues. FORA.tv delivers content via its proprietary FORA Player, mobile phones, iPods, cable video-on-demand and other distribution platforms such as Akimbo and Link TV. Content partners of FORA.tv include: C-SPAN; the Chautauqua Institution; the World Affairs Councils of Northern California, Dallas, Oregon, Philadelphia and Connecticut; The Brookings Institution; Hoover Institution; the Cato Institute; New America Foundation; The Heritage Foundation; The Aspen Institute; The Commonwealth Club; The New School; The Long Now Foundation; the Museum of the African Diaspora; Asia Society; Hong Kong’s Civic Exchange; University of London; Chatham House in London; Cambridge University; the Transatlantic Institute in Brussels; The Royal Institute for International Relations – EGMONT; and many of America’s top independent booksellers. Founded in 2006 by CEO Brian Gruber, FORA.tv has been initially funded by a group of private investors, including leading media pioneer and venture capitalist, William R. Hearst III. FORA.tv is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
