OMN News:
Voters Can Now Find Objective, Video Information
About June’s Pre-School and Public Library Ballot Measures (Propositions 81 & 82)
Video Voter Partners with LA36 & OMN to Better Serve Californians
Los Angeles….. Voters across California can now easily watch Voter Minutes to find straightforward one to two minute video explanations of ballot measures appearing on the June 6 Primary ballot. Propositions are often confusing, and television ads focus on attacks and propaganda rather than information. Voter Minutes, on the other hand,concisely present what the arguments are on either side, who the supporters and opponents are, what a yes and a no vote actually means, and where to go for more information.
The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) and LA36, the Los Angeles Education Channel, first produced Voter Minutes for the November 2004 election. Response has been tremendous, with thirty-five stations across the state requesting a DVD of Voter Minutes for the November 2005 Special Election to incorporate into their programming.
This year, CGS is expanding Voter Minutes online availability. Voter Minutes will continue to be available for viewing on LA36’s website (www.la36.org) but will now also be available as DVD-quality syndicatable downloads through an exciting new partnership with Open Media Network (OMN). Using OMN technology, stations and others can download and then use Voter Minutes as part of their election programming on-air and online. In addition, stations can leverage OMN’s library of related programming, such as the recent KQED Forum with Michael Krasny on these same ballot initiatives, to further educate the public.
Video Voter, a CGS project, improves access to voter information at all levels of government, encourages the use of untapped communications resources and employs new technologies to provide voters with non-partisan election information in easily accessible formats.
Open Media Network is already providing its free online media services to PBS affiliates, schools, and non profit institutions. OMN lets content producers and viewers upload, tag and distribute legal content to the online mainstream audience in addition to helping partners host video on their own sites using OMN technology.
About the Center for Governmental Studies
The Center for Governmental Studies, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, creates innovative solutions to improve civic engagement in communities and governments. CGS uses research, advocacy, technology and education to improve the fairness of governmental policies and processes, empower the underserved to participate more effectively in their communities, improve communication between voters and candidates for office, and help implement effective public policy reforms. More information is available at www.cgs.org.
About LA36
LA36’s mission is to support community building and promote learning through the development and distribution of innovative, high quality programming. LA36 strives to create value to the Los Angeles Community by connecting education and cultural resources that meet local needs, and by making these resources broadly accessible within the city. More information is online at www.la36.org.
About Open Media Network
Open Media Network is a non-profit focused on making it easier to find high-quality video and audio programming created by non-commercial networks, educational institutions, non-profits and community-based organizations. OMN is the leading online audio and video showcase of subjects you care deeply about — subjects that inform, educate and engage the public. More information can be found at www.omn.org.
Press Contacts:
Center for Governmental Studies
Nancy Volpert
nvolpert@cgs.org
(310) 470-6590, ext. 106
Betsy Rosenfeld
brosenfeld@cgs.org
(310) 470-6590, ext. 126
LA36
Scott Weber
(213) 346-3864
Krause Taylor Associates for Open Media Network
Shanee Ben-Zur
shanee@krause-taylor.com
(408)918-9083 |
