Pressroom
For Immediate Release June 29, 2009
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Announces Emergency Readiness Project
Washington, DC -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced an emergency readiness project which will leverage the power and immediacy of the Internet and public broadcasting in providing essential information in times of emergency.
The Station Action for Emergency Readiness (SAFER) project will be a collaboration between the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, NPR and a pilot group of public television stations, along with support from the Integrated Media Association. SAFER will build on the experiences and lessons learned by public broadcasters in emergency situations such as Hurricane Katrina, floods in the Midwest and wildfires in California.
“Public media has a long history of being a vital source for listeners and viewers to obtain accurate and critical information about their communities,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB.
SAFER will develop a set of online tools and resources which public radio and television stations can use, as well as create a customizable, online readiness manual for stations which will contain templates, case studies and best practices. A series of webinars and workshops will be offered featuring experts who can assist stations with implementation of a response program.
About CPB
CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,100 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.