2003 Beacon Finalists Announced
On February 10 the Cable Television Public Affairs Association (CTPAA) announced 114 finalists were selected from 422 entries in its 2003 Beacon Awards program.  The entries were submitted by cable operators, programming networks, and cable associations from across the country.  The Beacon Awards honor the best of the best in cable public affairs campaigns and community outreach efforts. 

Winners will be named during the Beacon Awards gala, set for Tuesday, April 1, at the Renaissance Mayflower hotel, Washington, DC, in conjunction with CTPAA's FORUM 2003 conference, "Capitalizing on Cable's Competitive Edge."  A list of all 2003 Beacon finalists is posted on the CTPAA Web site (www.ctpaa.org).  All finalists were notified directly by the CTPAA staff.  Additionally finalists were announced to trade and selected national press outlets.

 C-SPAN, Lifetime and MTV Golden Beacon Nominees
 The Cable Television Public Affairs Association (CTPAA) has named its nominees for the association's highest honor, the Golden Beacon.  Nominees are:

  • "C-SPAN's Presidential Timeline Giveaway," C-SPAN Networks,
  • "Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Violence Against Women, " Lifetime Television,
  • "Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself" Sexual Health Campaign, MTV.

"These three public affairs initiatives exemplify all that the cable industry is doing day-in, day-out for the local community," said Ellen East, CTPAA president and vice president, communications and investor relations, Cox Communications, Inc.  "Among its many community efforts, cable is working to better educate our children, raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault, and increase awareness of sexual health and the threat of HIV/AIDS."

CTPAA's Golden Beacon Award recognizes a public affairs initiative that has made an impact within the cable industry, while enhancing cable's image nationwide.  The 2002 Golden Beacon was awarded to Comcast Corporation for its Comcast Cares Day 2001. 

CTPAA members nominated C-SPAN for its initiative "C-SPAN's Presidential Timeline Giveaway."  In 2002, C-SPAN developed an educational outreach promotion for C-SPAN in the Classroom to highlight its American history resources, increase membership, and to drive home its cable funding message.  To attain this goal, C-SPAN created a campaign to distribute a six-foot presidential timeline poster to middle and high school social studies teachers all over the country, free-of-charge. The poster includes the public service careers of all 42 U.S. presidents, major events in U.S. history, and the message that C-SPAN is created by cable and offered as a public service. This campaign was launched October 1, and ran through December 31.  C-SPAN received requests for timelines from more than 60,000 educators and is in the process of distributing the posters.

Lifetime Television is a nominee for "Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Violence Against Women," which is part of its commitment to informing and supporting women on the issues most important to them.  The network used the vast power of television and the Internet to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.  In coordination with a coalition of leading non-profit organizations, the Congressional Women's Caucus and other bipartisan Members of Congress, Lifetime put a national spotlight -- on-air, online and in the halls of power -- on the problem of violence against women, in America and around the world. Every element in the campaign informed women and families about two life-saving resources: the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-SAFE) and the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) hotline (800-656-HOPE).  Lifetime Television has won two previous Golden Beacon Awards.  They won in 1997 for "Lifetime Television Fighting Breast Cancer: Our Lifetime Commitment," and in 1995 for "Lifetime Television Picture What Women Do." 

MTV is nominated for "Fight For Your Rights: Protect Yourself" Sexual Health Campaign, which is dedicated to informing and empowering young people on the issues surrounding their sexual health.  Developed in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, and building off a five-year on-air and online commitment to sexual health, the campaign focuses primarily on HIV/AIDS, other STDs, and unintended pregnancy.  The campaign includes original programming, public service messages, an extensive Web site, a toll-free hotline, a guide, local forums, and opportunities for young people to get involved in their communities.  The campaign has reached tens of millions of young people with its vital information, many of whom were mobilized to seek out further information and to take steps to ensure their safety.

 FORUM 2003 Update
Discover how to leverage cable's leadership in programming, viewership, new technologies and community affairs to your advantage.  FORUM will feature an extensive line-up of important topics and all-star speakers who will equip public affairs professionals with crucial tools and insights for achieving desired results.  Whatever your level of experience, you'll discover new and proven ways of taking your public affairs efforts to the next level.  A roundup of session highlights include:

  • Find out how to successfully localize a national event
  • Maximize communications and partnering skills for reaching multicultural markets
  • Discover how to effectively integrate public affairs and marketing campaigns
  • Expand your media relations knowledge for generating desired press coverage
  • Pick up new tips for working with municipal, state and national government officials
  • Receive new insights on public affairs' influence on corporate goals
  • Enhance your ability to effectively communicate with programming partners
  • Understand the powerful relationship of education and cable television

Confirmed keynoters:

  • Robert Sachs, President & CEO, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
  • Fraser Seitel, Founder Emerald Partners -- PR Week Top 100 "Public Relations Professionals"
  • Reg Weaver, President, National Education Association (NEA)

For the complete program schedule to date and registration information please go to www.ctpaa.org

 Make Your Hotel Room Reservation Today!
March 7 is the room reservation deadline for FORUM 2003. The Renaissance Mayflower, in the heart of downtown Washington, DC is hosting FORUM.  The conference room rate is $209.  To make reservations call Marriott national reservations at 800/468-3571 or the Mayflower directly at 202/347-3000 and reference CTPAA/FORUM 2003.

 Reserve a Table at the 2003 Beacon Ceremony
CTPAA is selling reserved tables for the 2003 Beacon Ceremony on April 1, 2003, at the Renaissance Mayflower hotel, Washington, DC.  A reserved table for registered FORUM attendees is $1,500.  For dinner guests only, a reserved table at the Beacons Ceremony is $3,000 (includes 10 tickets).  For more information, contact Michelle Butler at 202/775-1082 or mbutler@ctpaa.org.

 Support the Emma Bowen Foundation
One of FORUM's 2003 distinctive traditions is the Silent Auction and Opening Reception. This yearís Silent Auction will kick of FORUM on the evening of Sunday, March 30. For the fifth year, the Silent Auction will benefit the Emma L. Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media. The Foundation is dedicated to offering minority youth the support, education and skills needed to obtain jobs in the media industry.

Support the foundation by donating an item to the Silent Auction. Past popular items include the Beatles CD box set, personal electronics, tickets to Saturday Night Live, and jewelry. All platinum items, donations valued at $500 and up, will be sold at a live and entertaining auction held during the reception.

To guarantee your donation is listed in the Silent Auction Bid Book, please send in the donation form by March 7, 2003. Please send all donated items to CTPAA, 1724 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036, by March 21, 2003.

 Make an Appointment with your Congressman!
Interested in an exciting activity to augment you trip to Washington, DC, for the FORUM?  Plan to visit your Senators and Representative(s) while you are in town.  It is the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with your elected officials and tell them about your cable system.     

Because Spring is an especially busy time of year on Capitol Hill, you should start scheduling those meetings now.

Begin by calling the Member's Washington office to ask for a meeting.  You will need to speak to the Appointment Secretary/Scheduler.  You will be asked to explain who you are, when you will be in town and the purpose of your visit.  Tell them you want to visit to share information about your cable system, your outstanding community activities and any advanced services that have been rolled out.   You may be asked to send a follow-up written or faxed request for an appointment.  You will include in that correspondence the above information.    If the Member of Congress will not be available to meet with you, you may ask for an appointment with the legislative aide who handles telecommunications issues.   

In preparation for your meeting, create an information packet to leave with the congressional office that includes fact sheets and handouts on your cable system and your community activities.  You can give an overview of the past year, including any awards you received or any measurable successes that your community outreach campaigns have had.  You can include descriptions of any public affairs programming and civic sponsorships.  You may want to include information on recent and planned rollouts of advanced services, efforts to improve customer service, and educational programs.  Bring a few copies of this information for each office that you will visit.

If there are multiple cable operators in your area, it may be important to coordinate a joint industry meeting.  A lawmaker's office can get overwhelmed if multiple requests for meetings come in for the same purpose, from the same industry, for the same timeframe.   Please call NCTA's Association Affairs Department at 202/775-3673 to report meetings you schedule and if you need help coordinating with others from your area.    

 Thank You -- 2003 Corporate Members!
Welcome to our new corporate member, Showtime Networks!  For information on how your organization can join CTPAA as a corporate member, please contact Steve Jones at 202/775-1083.

2003 Golden Benefactors

A&E Networks
Advance/Newhouse Communications
Cablevision Systems Corporation
Charter Communications
Comcast Cable Communications
Cox Communications
NBC Cable Networks
Rainbow Media Holdings
Time Warner Cable
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

2003 Benefactors

ABC Cable Networks Group
Court TV
ESPN
Lifetime Television
MTV Networks
TechTV
The Weather Channel

2003 Friends & Associates

Adelphia
CableLabs
Cable & Telecommunications Association of New York
Comedy Central
C-SPAN Networks
Discovery Networks
Florida Cable Telecommunications Association
Game Show Network
Hallmark Channel
HBO
Indiana Cable telecommunications Association
Insight Communications
International Channel
Midcontinent Communications
Motorola, Broadband Communications Sector
Ohio Cable Telecommunications  Association
Oxygen
 Scientific Atlanta
Showtime Networks
Texas Cable & telecommunications  Association
Terayon Communication Systems

 VH1 Partners with Blue from American Express to Save the Music
VH1 Save the Music Foundation has partnered with Blue from American Express to create Blue For Save The Music, a new program designed to bring greater attention to the lifelong benefits of music education and to restore music education programs in America's public schools.  Blue For Save The Music will raise awareness about the importance of music education in a variety of ways and has pledged to raise $1 million this year to help restore public school music programs at a time when funding for music education is being cut or eliminated.

American Express and VH1 will launch the yearlong program in conjunction with this year's Grammy Awards taking place on February 23 in New York City with a Grammy viewing benefit event at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.  The benefit will feature live performances and special appearances by some of the entertainment industry's top performers.  The Blue Orchestra, a select group of music students from Save the Music programs, will also perform at the Grammy Viewing Party and at other events throughout the year. 

Following the Grammy Awards ceremony, musical instruments and memorabilia used by awards show performers will be for sale via an Internet auction with proceeds to be donated to music education programs through Blue For Save The Music and the Grammy Foundation.  From February 23 to March 7, 2003, the auction will be hosted at (www.americanexpress.com/blueformusic) and at (www.grammys.com/Blueformusic.com).

Blue for Save The Music is partnering with Infinity Broadcasting, one of the nation's leading radio groups, to create more than 30 fundraising events to benefit Save the Music in a variety of cities across the country.  These events will be hosted by Infinity station DJ's and feature music performances by some of the industry's hottest talent.  Events will include instrument drives and ticket sales to raise funds for Blue For Save The Music.

Blue For Save The Music also will produce PSA-style ads for television and radio featuring well-known artists including The Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige and Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band.  Debuting in February and running throughout the year, these ads will portray the tremendous influence music has made in the artists' lives and reinforce the importance of music education. 

Since VH1 Save the Music was created in 1997, more than $21 million worth of musical instruments has been donated to 900 public schools in 75 cities, improving the lives of nearly 400,000 children.  The foundation's ten-year plan is to bring music participation to one million children in public schools.

 DIRECTOR, MEDIA RELATIONS - VIDEO SERVICES, CABLEVISION

Responsible for managing media and public relations activities for Cablevision's video-related products and services including cable, digital and video on demand offerings. This includes heavy consumer and trade media relations and company-wide coordination of activity among appropriate divisions. Position also assists in formulating media policy related to cable regulatory matters as well as other areas including Internet, telephony and corporate communications as needed.

The ideal candidate must have 7+ years public relations or media relations experience with cable telecommunications or related industry experience strongly preferred.  Additionally she/he must be a self-starter with excellent writing and verbal skills as well as a track record in developing diverse media relations initiatives in a fast-paced environment.  If interested please send resume to executivena@aol.com

 New CPR Facts Newsletter

As you no doubt have noticed, the CPR Facts has changed format from an attached Word document into an HTML document.  The CTPAA Web site will continue to catalog past issues of the publication on the CPR Facts Newsletter page.  Comments and suggestions for the newsletter should be sent to mbutler@ctpaa.org.