EDUCATE NONPROFITS ABOUT "INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY" ISSUES

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

[ 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.


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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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