New Site Offers Extensive Local and National Information
ALEXANDRIA, VA, June 10, 2000 - Digging deeper into both the national and local election issues that concern most voters, PBS Online today launches the PBS Democracy Project Web site (PBS.org/democracy/), offering prospective voters a broad array of content to help them stay informed about the issues affecting their lives.
The PBS Democracy Project site differs from other election sites which primarily offer national election news and candidate information. Providing a unique foundation of national, state and local election coverage, the site will add comprehensive context, diverse perspectives, and rich, interactive learning opportunities as the election season progresses.
The Web site is part of the PBS Democracy Project, providing distinctive and engaging local and national public affairs coverage and encouraging expanded civic discourse and participation in the democratic process. This site is made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The PBS Democracy Project site will educate users by providing crucial local and national election information, but will also engage them through extensive interactive features, including live polls, streaming media, and a variety of online events.
Initially, the site will launch with these features:
- In Your Town. PBS and its member stations will provide a wealth of state and local content, including: event calendars, debates and biographical candidate information; analysis of political advertising; and video and audio of local speeches and other election news. This section will also include an interactive tutorial that explains how state and local government impact people's daily lives. Visitors will also be able to see all of the local ballot measures and candidates to be voted on, based on their ZIP code. This function was produced with assistance from Legislative Demographic Services (lds2000.com).
- Online NewsHour. Local coverage of races around the country written by experts in each of the 50 states (PBS.org/newshour).
- Check the Record. A searchable database of candidate voting records, biographies, speeches, photos, interest group ratings and campaign finance information, provided by Project Vote Smart.
- Election News Ticker. Timely headlines with accompanying stories on election-related news, provided by the Online NewsHour.
- What Do You Think? The site will include op-ed essays on election 2000's hottest topics. Visitors will have a chance to read, discuss, and finally voice their opinions on some of the most critical issues facing the nation today. Content is provided by The CQ Researcher as well as signature PBS election programming.
- Integration and coordination of election-related content from other PBS.org sites. These sites include AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, CHARLIE ROSE, FRONTLINE, POV, THINK TANK, TO THE CONTRARY, WALL $TREET WEEK WITH LOUIS RUKEYSER, and WASHINGTON WEEK IN REVIEW.
- Election Links. This section will include a list of the best Web sites offering resources for voters.
- Read Between the Lines. In this online voter's guide, visitors will learn how to make informed political decisions. Essays, written by experts in their fields, will explain such critical skills as how to dissect political ads and how to interpret political debates.
In addition to the above content, PBS.org and the Online NewsHour (PBS.org/newshour) will team up to provide these features:
- Special background reports, interviews, and side-by-side analyses of candidate positions.
- An archived selection of all election-related stories from the main Online NewsHour site.
PBS.org, PBS' award-winning site on the World Wide Web, produces high-quality Web programming as it pioneers the convergence of television and the Internet. PBS Online features more than 85,000 pages of content, as well as companion Web sites for more than 400 PBS programs and specials. PBS ONLINE has won the prestigious Webby Award for best TV Web site in 1998 and 1999. In January 2000, Yahoo! put PBS.org at the top of its list of the best Web sites of all time.
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 34 public television stations. A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. Available to 99 percent of American homes with televisions and to an increasing number of digital multimedia households, PBS serves nearly 100 million people each week. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org.
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Contacts
Kevin Dando
PBS
(703) 739-5073