Interesting People mailing list archives
EDUCATE NONPROFITS ABOUT "INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY" ISSUES
From: David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 16:10:48 -0400
[ I am amused that the Pew trust with special "a special commitment to Philadelphia" sponcered a DC firm to do this study .. oh well djf] CENTER FOR MEDIA EDUCATION News Release September 27, 1993 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CENTER FOR MEDIA EDUCATION AWARDED $300,000 TO EDUCATE NONPROFITS ABOUT "INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY" ISSUES Date: September 27, 1993 Contact: Jeffrey Chester Executive Director (202) 628-2620; internet cme () access digex net WASHINGTON, DC--With major funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center for Media Education (CME) has launched an unprecedented initiative aimed at helping nonprofits make the critical transition into the 21st Century Information Age. "The ability to navigate the 'information superhighway' will be a life or death matter for nonprofits," warned CME President Kathryn Montgomery. But while many groups are already taking advantage of computer networks, satellites, and other new technologies, most nonprofits are basically uninformed about the dramatic transformation of our entire media system and its profound impact on their futures," she explained. "People may read in the paper about new 500 and 1000 channel interactive TV systems, but they have no idea what the implications are for what they do. These developments will fundamentally alter how they communicate with the public, interact with policy makers, offer services, and raise money. Those who don't adapt won't survive." Starting this Fall, CME will publish a monthly newsletter on telecommunications issues for the nonprofit community. The publication will provide concise and user-friendly analysis, informing readers of new policy developments, and identifying ways that nonprofits could take advantage of government-sponsored grants, pilot projects, and other opportunities. One of the goals of the CME initiative will be to encourage nonprofits to become involved in critical policy issues affecting their future. "We want to ensure that the nonprofit community is in a position to reap the benefits of these technologies," said Jeff Chester, CME Executive Director. "This will only happen if nonprofits pay serious attention to telecommunications policy." Decisions are being made every day which will affect the ability of nonprofits to participate in 21st Century communications," explained Chester. He noted, for example, that the Federal Communications Commission is currently deciding whether to create lower-cost "nonprofit rates" for organizations seeking to program cable channels, or to charge them the same rates paid by large commercial cable networks. In addition to the monthly newsletter, the Center for Media Education will produce a variety of informational materials, conduct workshops, and develop policy proposals on behalf of nonprofits. CME will also create a strategic media campaign to stimulate broad debate about the future of telecommunications and its impact on our democratic society. ABOUT THE CENTER FOR MEDIA EDUCATION: The Center for Media Education is a DC-based nonprofit organization founded in 1991. CME's mission is to promote the democratic potential of the electronic media through public education, research, policy analysis and outreach to the press. In addition to the Information Infrastructure Project, the CME's Campaign for Kids' TV works to improve the quality of children's television and is the successor to Action for Children's Television. The Pew Charitable Trusts, a national and international philanthropy with a special commitment to Philadelphia, supports nonprofit activities in the areas of conservation and the environment, culture, education, health and human services, public policy and religion. Through their grantmaking, the Trusts seek to encourage individual development and personal achievement, cross-disciplinary problem solving and innovative, practical approaches to meet the changing needs of society. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~ Please repost. For more information, please contact our offices directly. C E N T E R F O R M E D I A E D U C A T I O N 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 518 Washington, DC 20005 Tel: (202) 628-2620 Fax: (202) 628-2554 internet: cme () access digex net In order to receive regular copies of CME news releases and comments, please send a note to cme () access digex net ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
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- EDUCATE NONPROFITS ABOUT "INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY" ISSUES David Farber (Sep 27)