New Public Media Initiative - inReads

[Felicia]

Hi All--

I thought you might be interested in this new media initiative that
was recently launched by WETA in Washington, DC. inReads (http://
www.inreads.com) is an online community dedicated to the changing face
of reading.

We continue to look for writers, partners, etc.

I've pasted the press release below.

Thanks.

Felicia Pride
Executive Editor, inReads
fel...@inreads.com
inreads.com | @inreads

For Immediate Release

WETA Launches inReads—the First Online Community Dedicated to “Social
Readia” for a Changing World

inReads is a Conversation Starter and Hub—For Those Who Are Redefining
and Remixing the Reading Experience to Those Who Simply Love Books

(For Immediate Release: Washington, D.C.—Tuesday, June 21, 2011)
Today, Michael Holstein, associate general counsel at WETA, Washington
D.C., the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s
capital, announced the launch of inReads, a website and online
community dedicated to the changing world of literature and books.
With innovative use of web technology, inReads will foster
conversations about books, technology and culture and how the three
intersect and influence each other. inReads offers people the
opportunity to take whatever online experience works best for them and
contribute their voice within this community. As part of defining this
“social readia” experience, inReads reviews traditional books in
nontraditional ways; highlights enhanced e-books and new technologies;
interviews writers and artists on the forefront of innovative literary
endeavors; and features other art forms and their relationships to
reading.

“inReads is the new online home and social community dedicated to
those of us who love books and can’t get enough talking about them,
but also recognize the myriad of ways that reading is changing,” says
Holstein, who is also executive producer of inReads. “WETA recognizes
the power of media and the impact technology has had across the board
in our community; inReads is the perfect outlet for the young, cool,
and plugged-in to start the conversation.”

Bibliophiles are encouraged to join the online community talking about
dynamic changes in the book and publishing world—a central theme
throughout the inReads community. inReads offers original content from
professional authors and widely published writers who also freelance
for the Christian Science Monitor, New York magazine, Newsday, and The
Huffington Post. Authors already featured in content exclusive to
inReads include Alice Ozma, Eric Gordon, Adam Mansbach, David Foster
Wallace, Rebecca Skloot, Seth Godin, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, and Tomas
Mournian. Additionally, the site offers rich content curated from on
and off-line publications such as Los Angeles Times, AllThingsD.com,
and Gawker.com.

Within the community platform, inReads allows members to store their
own reading history and thoughts within the myReads section and
compiles information about the entire community in the ourReads
section. Once a myReads account is created, users can keep track of
what they have read, dazzle the community with their brilliant
insights, share quotes that blew them away, and find out who else
reads the same things. These personal myReads shelves can hold links
to reads of all types, not just books. While myReads is a personal
space where people can express their love of all things reading,
ourReads is everyone’s space. The ourReads shelves are accessible to
all and give a snapshot of what’s hot, or not and what has the
community buzzing. As the inReads community conversation grows, so
will these features on the ourReads page.

“By broadening the conversation about reading, we are truly
encouraging a reading culture,” says Felicia Pride, executive editor
of inReads. “We have to be more inviting when it comes to books and
the way we read, and get more people involved in the conversation—
including those who’d rather experience an enhanced e-book on their
iPad. The inReads staff, contributors, and advisory board will help
the conversation along but the community members will really steer
it.”

Felicia Pride is an independent content producer, author, and former
book publishing professional with more than 10 years experience
working in media. Her work has been featured in USA Today, NPR’s “Talk
of the Nation,” Publishers Weekly, and The Baltimore Sun. Currently
she serves as the executive editor of inReads and she’s the co-creator
of 2MPower Media, a content production firm that connects media,
entertainment and education.

About inReads:
inReads is an online community dedicated to the changing face of
reading, focusing on books, technology, and culture. inReads is a
production of WETA, Washington, D.C. The executive producer of inReads
is Michael Holstein and executive editor is Felicia Pride. Major
funding for inReads is provided by Park Foundation with additional
funding provided by WETA Washington, D.C. Join us and help steer the
conversation at inReads.com.

About WETA Washington, D.C.:
WETA Washington, D.C., is the third-largest producing station for
public television. WETA’s other productions and co-productions include
“PBS NewsHour,” “Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National
Journal,” “The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize” and documentaries by
filmmaker Ken Burns, including his upcoming work, “Prohibition.”
Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on
WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org.


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Press Contact:
Donna Hardwick
On and On PR & Marketing
O: 978-358-7209
M: 617-308-5677
dhar...@onandonpr.com