[CCTPG] FYI-- Latest Contentbank Update

[James Lau]

	July 29, 2003 Issue 6

		New report about online health content usage, search engine for developing nations, and more			Sign up for our weekly Contentbank Newsblast
		Youth-Created Content			Content evaluation and creation research from TCP

	Here is a sampling of Toolbox links to the resources, models, and products you need. Blogs: What is a blog? A blog (short for Weblog) is a Web page of usually short messages (like diary entries) that are arranged in chronological order. Products and services you can use to create blogs Articles and resources about blogs Examples of how others use blogs to create content Learn about lowering barriers for users with limited-literacy skills: Products and services you can use to lower barriers for users with limited-literacy skills Articles and resources about lowering barriers for users with limited-literacy skills Examples of how others have lowered barriers for users with limited-literacy skills   Welcome to the CONTENTBANK UPDATE. There have been many changes at Contentbank in the past month. In addition to redesigning the site, we have re-launched our Site Tools section, now called the Toolbox, and have created the Contentbank Newsblast, a weekly news subscription service (read more about it below). The goals of our new Toolbox section are to present information, easy-to-use tools, and examples to help people create their own content; and highlight tools that can be used to make content accessible to those with disabilities, limited-literacy skills, or primary languages other than English. We aim to demonstrate that even with limited time, money, and expertise, community-based organizations can put quality content on the Web that is either written by or speaks to the needs of their clients. By expanding people's understanding of Internet content to include things like discussion forums, email groups, Weblogs (online diaries), etc., we hope to encourage the creation of more local and community content that is quick, easy, and inexpensive to develop. And, in one more Contentbank change, I want to let you know that I will be transitioning from my role as the manager of Contentbank to an advisor and consultant to the program. After more than a year of building the Contentbank program, site, and staff, this new role will keep me connected to the program while leaving me more time to focus on graduate school. From this point forward, please contact the Producer of Contentbank, Rachel Fireman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), with Contentbank questions and Laurie Lipper ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for organizational ones. I look forward to continuing to work with you all on the important issue of content for - and by - underserved communities and encourage you to share your ideas and recommendations with the Contentbank Team. Sincerely, Mara Rose [EMAIL PROTECTED] Technology Program Manager Contentbank

Contentbank covers the latest news and emerging issues in online content. Recent stories include: New Report Demonstrates Popularity of Online Health Content Study Shows Youth Spend More Time Online Than Watching Television Search Engine Geared Toward Needs of Developing Countries Visit the News Archive to see more: http://www.contentbank.org/news.asp     In our current Online Exchange (message board event), Youth-Created Content, participants are exchanging resources, curriculum, tools, and strategies they have developed or used to create effective youth media programs throughout the country. We hope you will visit the Online Exchange to help you design, implement, and sustain these important programs and network with like-minded professionals. View the Youth-Created Content Online Exchange Highlights from the Exchange, which launched on June 16th, include: Listen Up! Youth Media news, resources, as well as featured youth work http://www.listenup.com Youth-produced community content on issues such as AIDS awareness, homelessness, and images of girls in the media http://www.youthnoise.com/CTC Links to media literacy lesson plans as well as useful materials for teaching media education http://interact.uoregon.edu/MediaLit/HomePage While you're at it, read the summary of our last Online Exchange, The Hunt for Quality Content, where participants shared online tools, guidelines, and research related to evaluating and creating online content that meets the needs of underserved people.

We are pleased to announce a new Contentbank service, the Contentbank Newsblast. We now offer a weekly subscription service that delivers online content news and information that impacts low-income and underserved communities to you via email. Whether you're interested in new health Web sites targeting low-income people, the latest user-friendly tools to create content, or international content efforts, the Newsblast will keep you in the loop. Sign-up by clicking on the Newsblast button in our News Archive section: http://www.contentbank.org/news.asp     Title: The Search for Quality Online Content (Coming Summer 2003) Author: The Children's Partnership This upcoming report from The Children's Partnership will include research and recommendations to encourage the creation of low-barrier content and the careful evaluation of existing content, to ensure that low-income and underserved individuals find a wide array of the online resources they want most. Request Your Copy Now The Children's Partnership's Contentbank Guidelines, Version 1.0 As part of our research, TCP has taken the first step toward establishing a comprehensive method for evaluating and creating Web sites to meet the wide-ranging needs of the 50 million Americans now underserved by online content. Whether you create content or are looking for the best content for the individuals you serve, we encourage you to download the guidelines, test them out, and give us feedback.

	Contentbank is a project of The Children's Partnership, a national nonprofit child advocacy organization, with generous support from the Markle Foundation, the AOL Time Warner Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, and the Blue Ridge Foundation New York. Contentbank.org has three major goals:  To identify what online content low-income users need, examples of what exists, and what still needs to be created; To make it easier for community-based organizations and the individuals they serve to create their own content; and To encourage the public and private sectors to develop usable content for low-income and underserved Americans. Please send your comments or questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. The Children's Partnership offers other online resources in the areas of technology and health for underserved children and their families. Young Americans and the Digital Future Campaign - Policy initiatives to close the technology gap Express Lane Eligibility - Streamlining health insurance enrollment for millions of children