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Area Seniors to Receive Free Internet Training Through Special Partnership Program Between the Detroit Media Partnership and Wayne County Community College District

Posted on: Tuesday, 17 February 2009, 16:01 CST

"Empower Yourself" Offered Free of Charge at all WCCCD Campuses and Other Venues Facilitates Access to New E-editions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News

DETROIT, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning March 9, a special and unique partnership between the Detroit Media Partnership and Wayne County Community College District's Continuing Education Division (WCCCD) will allow metro Detroit area seniors to receive free Internet training at all of the District's five campuses, the WCCCD University Center as well as several other venues throughout the region.

The special course titled "Empower Yourself" and offered free of charge, will teach seniors to access the electronic editions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News as well as other Internet skills such as information research, e-mail and online shopping. Electronic Editions are exact copies of the print newspapers available online and access is included in subscription fees paid by subscribers. These editions are different from the Web sites, www.freep.com and www.detnews.com.

Dave Hunke, CEO of Detroit Media Partnership and Publisher of the Detroit Free Press said, "Our commitment to the people of Michigan is to continue to be their premier source for news and information. The 'Empower Yourself' program is one example of many initiatives to ensure that we are helping people adapt in every way we can. We are delighted to be able to partner with WCCCD and reach out to the thousands of seniors who will benefit from this."

"Freep.com and detnews.com are constantly updated throughout the day," Hunke said. "They have photo galleries and embedded videos, whereas the electronic editions are basically PDF versions of the printed newspaper. These editions complement the reading experience people are used to with a printed edition."

"WCCCD's mission is based on making education accessible to all. We are thrilled to join hands with the Detroit Media Partnership in this meaningful effort," said Dr. Curtis L. Ivery, Chancellor, WCCCD. "This partnership is a perfect synergy with our combined expertise that provides effective educational solutions for our seniors."

Starting next month, the "Empower Yourself" classes will be offered at two levels - beginners and advanced. The beginners level will first provide an overview of the basics of Internet usage such as e-mail and information research. The course will then cover the layout and navigational aspects of the e-edition of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. The advanced level will not include the Internet usage primer.

An online version of the "Empower Yourself" program will also be offered through WCCCD's Distance learning Division.

The newly transformed Detroit Free Press and Detroit News will go into effect Monday, March 30. The "Empower Yourself" classes will continue to be offered at WCCCD throughout the 2009 school year.

Detroit Media Partnership, L.P. manages the business functions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. As the largest newspapers in Michigan, with two of the most visited Web sites in the market, the Free Press and The News combine to reach a weekly audience of 2.1 million people; 56% of adults in this market see our products.* Detroit Media Partnership is also the advertising sales agent for the following suburban Detroit publications: Observer & Eccentric and Mirror Newspapers, Novi News, Milford Times, Northville Record, South Lyon Herald and Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. Gannett Co., Inc., owner of the Free Press, is the general partner in DMP; MediaNews Group, owner of The News, is the limited partner.

*SOURCE: 2008 Scarborough Report - August 2006 - July 2007 - Detroit DMA

WCCCD is committed to the continued development of new programs, hosting more community-based training sessions, improving student facilities and services, upgrading technologies, making capital investments in massive building expansion projects, training staff members to enhance their skills to maximize efficiency. For more information on WCCCD, please visit www.wcccd.edu.

SOURCE Wayne County Community College District

Source: PR Newswire

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