Exhibit 23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ---------------------------------- We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-62385) of Penton Media, Inc. of our report dated March 19, 2002 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in this Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Cleveland, Ohio March 21, 2002