In 1994 six media companies [mostly a bunch of newspaper companies] created a research consortium to learn about and evaluate technology that could impact media and support the creation of new businesses and services. There is a page for PAFET on the site that has more information and links to important documents. These files are some of the “nuts and bolts” memos and other documents during the short life of this media consortium.
March 18, 1994
Announcement of Creation of PAFET
Here is the announcement of the creation of the PAFET research consortium.
August 24, 1994
PAFET Review Report for Management, 1994
This is a report that was written for the members of the PAFET management committee. The ideas was to keep executives abreast of changing alliances and technologies. Howard Finberg write this report.
https://www.digitalfuturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HF-Pafet-Review-080194.pdf
February 7, 1995
Understanding PAFET, 1995
Summary of a February 7, 1995 presentation about PAFET, generated by AI
An Interview with PAFET – 1995 Slide Deck Summary
Overview:
PAFET (Partners Affiliated for Exploring Technology) was a research consortium formed by six leading U.S. media companies in the early 1990s: A.H. Belo, Central Newspapers, Cowles M
https://www.digitalfuturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/An-Interview-With-Pafet-020795.pdf
July 18, 1995
PAFET Operating Committee Meeting, July 1995
PAFET Operating Committee Agenda and meeting notes, held in Seattle, WA on July 18-19, 1995. This document also includes the organization's mission statement: The mission of PAFET shall be to assist individual member companies in the development of mechanisms for presentation and marketing of information using new technolgies, in order to help the member companies make better individual decisions concerning the future of their businesses.
August 22, 1995
PAFET Operating Committee Meeting, August 1995
PAFET Operating Committee Agenda and notes for Minneapolis, MN, meeting on August 22-23, 1995. It includes discussions about online activities and information about New Century Network.
March 19, 1996
PAFET Operating Meeting, March 1996
Agenda and information about the PAFET Operating Committee Meeting held in Raleigh, NC
April 16, 1996
PAFET Operating Committee, April 1996
PAFET Operating Committee meeting and agenda. Held in Phoenix, AZ. Includes documents about "Elect to Connect," a project involving Newspapers in Education.
The NIE Project was initially established as an experiment in conducting joint development within PAFET. This area was selected in part based on the existing relationships (and history of collaboration) among PAFET NIE representatives. After several discussions, the group decided to focus the project on jointly develop
October 7, 1996
PAFET Meeting Schedule: 1997
Here's an internal memo from the executive director regarding the Partners Affiliated for Exploring Technology [PAFET] discussing the 1997 meeting schedule
TO: Howard Finberg
FROM: Marla McDonald
SUBJECT: 1997 PAFET Meeting Schedule
*****
I have attached a revised schedule based on our discussion this morning. I switched the Jan OpCom and Nov MngComhttps://www.digitalfuturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1997-PAFET-Meeting-Schedule-100796.pdf
May 28, 1997
PAFET Committee Meetings, May 1997
The PAFET management committee met May 29, 1997 in Minneapolis, MN. The day before, May 28, the operating committee held its meeting.
October 20, 1997
PAFET Operating Committee Meeting, October 1997
This PAFET operating committee was held in Boston, MA, October 20-21, 1997. The document includes agenda items and a discussion about 1998.