PressEthic

According to the New York Observer's Off the Record, the World Economic Forum is assembling an A-list of journalists and editors to form an International Media Council.

The WEF is an international, not-for-profit organization "committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas," according to their website.

From the Observer:

“It’s kind of like a list of who we think would be wonderful,” W.E.F. spokeswoman Claudia Gonzalez said. Ms. Gonzalez described the International Media Council as “just an idea,” but she confirmed that the W.E.F. is planning to have a “media council of some sort.” The project should take a more definite shape within four to six weeks, she said.

The W.E.F. already has a few other separate “communities,” like the International Business Council (the C.E.O.’s of Mittal Steel and Chevron are members); the Arab Business Council; and the Young Global Leaders (which includes young university professors, elected officials and high-powered executives).

Groups like the International Business Council are comprised of 100 business leaders and discuss problems and solutions in their industries. Apparently, the International Media Council would do something similar, much like the Poynter Institute. But I'm assuming it's much like those "Who's Who of American College" lists: just something else to put on your resume and summarized biography.

So who's on the list to join this prestigious group? Time managing editor Richard Stengel, Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, New Yorker writers Ken Auletta and Seymour Hersh and the Washington Post's Bob Woodward. And YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley and MySpace co-founder Tom Anderson were thrown in for good measure (eye roll). You can download a full list in pdf form here.

A representative said the project will develop in the next four to six weeks. I wonder what this new council will come up with, besides gripes about declining circulation numbers.