The Foundation for Excellence in Education, which is led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is holding its annual summit next month, an event that will draw a constellation of state education officials and entrepreneurs. But one attendee arguably towers over all: media titan Rupert Murdoch.
Murdoch is the chairman of News Corp., a media conglomerate that recently moved into the education-technology market. Bush, along with a number of state schools chiefs, has been a strong advocate of the increased use of technology in education, as a way to expand student learning opportunities at a low cost.
Critics of News Corp. have taken a skeptical view of its move into ed-tech, given the hit to the media giant’s reputation stemming from the recent phone-hacking scandal at one of its newspapers, News of the World.
For more details on Murdoch’s appearance at the summit, see my colleague Ian Quillen’s item.
Foundation officials decided to invite Murdoch after reading his remarks at the G8 summit on the potential for technology to improve schools, said Jaryn Emhof, a spokeswoman for the organization, in an email.
“To hear one of the world’s most successful businessmen share his passion for improving education is an incredible opportunity for our attendees,” she explained.