PRI PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Dan Jensen, PRI, 612.330.9212, djensen@pri.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Public Interactive® launches Public Action™ nationwide Early adoption of community engagement solution signals strong, growing interest

MINNEAPOLIS, September 19, 2007 — Public Interactive, a subsidiary of Public Radio International® and public broadcasting's leading Web services company, announces the nationwide availability of Public Action, a powerful online community engagement, social networking tool. Created specifically for public broadcasting, Public Action enables stations and programs to cultivate extensive, interactive online communities, giving fans a place to meet, discuss and connect with one another. With beta-testing ended, the shared network has grown to nearly 20 user organizations, including such popular syndicated radio programs as "Car Talk," PRI's "The World" and "Fair Game from PRI with Faith Salie"; stations WABE/Atlanta, PBS 45 & 49, WOSU/Columbus and KUER/Salt Lake City; as well as the Public Radio News Directors organization, PRNDI.

Public Action Product Manager Keith Hopper says, "We're very encouraged by stations moving so quickly towards Public Action. But more important than the overall numbers is the ability our participating organizations now have to build even stronger ties with their audiences. In public broadcasting — an industry dependent on audience support — that's a very powerful thing."

Public Action enables stations, program producers and related organizations to create their own unique online communities while distributing and integrating online content from the shared network of public broadcasters. In doing so, these organizations can increase audience participation and long-term affiliation, as well as invite engaged members to help inform programming content through open dialog. Public Action features a range of discussion moderation options and is fully managed by Public Interactive.

"Public Action is by far the best thing that's come along for community engagement," says "Car Talk's" Doug Mayer. "We work hard to build a sense of community around 'Car Talk,' and Public Action's intuitive tools provide an easy way for fans to interact with one another and with our hosts."

Public Action's feature-rich tool set gives administrators the power to create and integrate Web-based communities within their current Web sites, with minimal staffing demands. Site visitors can return daily to participate in ongoing conversations, create dynamic user profiles and even initiate their own discussions. The result is a burgeoning online community, designed at every turn to be configurable, customizable and flexible enough to support a wide range of creative initiatives.

"For site visitors," Hopper adds, "Public Action becomes a central meeting place for people who similarly rely on programming to stay informed and entertained. As the community grows, the station or program always remains at the forefront. Community engagement is the key to building and maintaining a rich relationship between broadcasters and audience."

Public Action was first developed with funding from the Omidyar Network, a mission-based investment group committed to global-scale projects. In January of 2007, the product entered a beta-testing phase, which was completed in July.

About Public Interactive®
Public Interactive is public broadcasting's leading provider of Web tools and services with 165 subscribers that collectively operate 325 public radio and television stations, as well as nationally-syndicated programs. Leveraging the on-air reach and the information and education activities of public radio and television, Public Interactive provides plug-and-play modules that enable broadcasters to offer rich websites at minimal cost and to undertake their own online initiatives.

Public Interactive was formed in 1999 with initial investment provided by Public Radio International (PRI) and a consortium of 15 public broadcasting licensees. In June 2004, PRI purchased the interests held by other investors and merged the company into Public Interactive LLC, a nonprofit corporation. Public Interactive represents a unique station-centric resource in public media. Its development and operations have been financed by a combination of fees paid by subscribing stations and support from sources that include the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Ford Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies and the PRI New Venture Revolving Fund. For more information about Public Interactive's products and services, visit www.publicinteractive.com.

About Public Radio International®
PRI is public radio's leading source for innovative programming, providing diverse voices and global perspectives for the public airwaves. Through partnerships with BBC World Service and station-based and independent producers, the Minneapolis-based network provides over 400 hours of programming each week, content that is broadcast and streamed online by 815 PRI affiliates nationwide, whose radio broadcasts reach 29.6 million listeners each week. PRI owns Public Interactive LLC, public broadcasting's leading Web services company. PRI is also the managing partner of the satellite radio company American Public Radio LLC, established with Chicago Public Radio®, WGBH Radio Boston and WNYC, New York Public Radio®. PRI programming is available via XM Public Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

PRI is known for driving innovation in public radio through partnerships with stations, independent producers and other organizations, and for working collaboratively to pool resources, share risk and cultivate new talent. Its best known offerings include "The Tavis Smiley Show," produced by Smiley Radio Properties Inc.; "This American Life," produced by Chicago Public Radio®; PRI's "The World," a co-production of BBC World Service, PRI, and WGBH Radio Boston; "Living on Earth," produced by World Media Foundation Inc.; "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?®," produced by Wisconsin Public Radio; and PRI's "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen," produced by PRI and WNYC, New York Public Radio®; as well as 24-hour program services — "Classical 24®," produced by American Public Media™; and BBC World Service, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. For more information on PRI and its programs and services, visit www.pri.org.