Gary Arlen was founder/president of Arlen Communications LLC in Bethesda, where he wrote, published and consulted about the development of new media including the convergence of video and telecommunications for nearly 45 years. He also advised organizations about new media strategies and helped them implement digital services and applications for entertainment, communications, tech literacy, marketing and e-commerce

Gary was founder/editor/publisher of industry publications that analyzed the birth of the consumer online industry in the 1980s and ‘90s. He was the long-time “curmudgeon” columnist for Multichannel News as well as a regular contributor to Broadcasting & Cable, NextTV, TVTechnology and many other business and technology publications.

His consulting clients have included AT&T, the National Football League, Discovery Communications, PBS, Sony, NBC, Microsoft, Intel, Hearst New Media, GTECH, the Museum of Television and Radio (now called The Paley Center), CTA’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. the Media Institute and an array of start-up ventures. 

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Gary graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and earned a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism.