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New America Media Holds Historic Meeting With White House to Discuss Improving Communication to Ethnic Communities

Posted on: Thursday, 26 March 2009, 12:08 CDT

NAM, White House Explore Ways to Better Communicate with Ethnic Communities in the USA

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives of New America Media (NAM) recently met with the White House communications office to discuss ways the NAM ethnic media network can be utilized to help deliver important public policy, safety and health information to ethnic communities in the US.

With more than 2,500 members, NAM is the nation's largest organization of ethnic media outlets and organizations. More than 51 million ethnic adults connect to each other, to home countries and to America through the ethnic media, one of the few growing sectors of American journalism.

"We are pleased that the Obama administration was a catalyst for this historic meeting," said Sandy Close, NAM's executive editor and director. "It demonstrates that the White House communications office is serious about ensuring that all Americans receive critical information about policy issues that impact their lives."

Already, NAM has engaged in discussions with some government agencies about utilizing their network as frontline messengers to reach ethnic communities, including those that are non-English speaking. NAM's network of ethnic media partners ranges from the major news outlets serving African American, Hispanic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Native American to niche outlets reaching the Burmese and Turkish in Nashville Somali and Hmong in Minneapolis, as well as the Mixtec, Iranian and Rumanian communities in Los Angeles. NAM and the White House are reviewing ways to better utilize the ethnic media to inform their communities about vital public policies.

Ms. Close noted that NAM will hold their 2009 National Ethnic Media Expo & Awards in Atlanta June 4-5, and will unveil a partnership with a key federal agency that will allow families and individuals in ethnic communities to receive important health-related alerts through ethnic media. "We are looking to expand the news and information that flows from the government and private entities to people living in ethnic communities," Ms. Close said. "Our Expo will help underscore the relevance of the ethnic media, and how it can be better utilized in the future."

Khalil Abdullah, NAM's national editor who attended the White House meeting with Ms. Close, said it's clear that NAM shares similar goals with the Obama administration.

"We live in an information age," Mr. Abdullah said. "It's crucial that ethnic communities receive important information in a language and format that they understand and can utilize to improve their safety, health or quality of life. We must ensure that ethnic communities, especially those that don't speak English, are not left behind and shut out from vital information."

About NAM

New America Media is the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. Over 51 million ethnic adults connect to each other, to home countries and to America through 3000+ ethnic media, the fastest growing sector of American journalism. Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM is headquartered in California with offices in New York and Washington D.C. NAM also partners with journalism schools to grow local associations of ethnic media around the nation.

CONTACT: Edwin Okong'o 415-503-4170

SOURCE New America Media

Source: PR Newswire

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