Britt and Sweeney to Receive CTPAA President's Awards
The Cable Television Public Affairs Association (CTPAA) named Glenn Britt, Chairman & CEO, Time Warner Cable and Anne Sweeney, President, ABC Cable Networks & Disney Channel Worldwide, as this year's recipients of the Association's President's Award.

The President's Award recognizes leaders who, by their guidance and support, advance the role of public affairs in the cable industry. Selected annually by the CTPAA president, the award honors individuals who have developed and implemented public affairs initiatives within their companies as well as throughout the cable industry. This year, CTPAA President Peter Kiley, Director of Affiliate Relations, C-SPAN Networks, made the selections.

"Glenn serves as the current chairman of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and is a key advocate and spokesperson for the cable industry," said Kiley. "Time Warner Cable is a leading innovator and supporter of community, education and other public affairs efforts that positively impact children and adults living in the cities, towns and communities served by the company."

Kiley added, "ABC Cable Networks through Anne's leadership has renewed the organization's commitment to community relations, particularly through a new public affairs program, Learning Together! This national initiative was developed to improve children's learning and personal growth through family involvement and is supported by all four ABC Cable networks."

Britt and Sweeney will be honored during the Beacon Awards Gala, on Tuesday, March 23 at the Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC, during CTPAA's FORUM 2004 conference, "Communicating Cable's Value." FORUM is the cable industry's annual educational event dedicated to the issues facing public affairs professionals.

 Final Round Judging for 2004 Beacon Awards Completed
CTPAA members and senior public affairs professionals from cable operators, programmers and other industry organizations participated as final round judges for the 2004 Beacon Awards at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) building in Washington, D.C., on January 29. Steve Jones, CTPAA's executive director, welcomed the group and thanked them for volunteering their time to help CTPAA. Maryann Kafer, CTPAA board member and director, public relations, Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association, and Brian Wirth, vice president, government and public affairs Time Warner Cable and chair of the Beacon judging operations work group, then lead the group through an in-depth review of judging procedures.

Nearly 40 senior public affair professionals reviewed the 148 entries that advanced to the final round to determine which ones will be finalists and 2004 Beacon Award winners. All the entries that advanced to the final round scored 89 points or higher in the first round of judging held on January 14 and 15.

CTPAA will announce the finalists in mid-February. CTPAA will notify each finalist by letter and will post a list of the finalists on its Web site (www.ctpaa.org). At the 2004 Beacon Awards gala on March 23, during FORUM 2004, CTPAA will announce the winners.

Thanks to all 39 volunteers who participated as final round Beacon judges earlier this week:

Lidia Agraz, Time Warner Cable
Jeffrey Alexander, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.
Portia Badham, BadWyn Communications
Peggy Ballard, Scientific-Atlanta
Amanda Batson, Ph.D., Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association
Susan Breckenridge, Time Warner Cable
Janice Caluda, Florida Cable Telecommunications Association
Carol Cate, Nickelodeon
Maureen Cestari, Comcast Cable Television
Linda Chambers, Bright House Networks
Anne Cowan, CTAM
Brian Dietz, NCTA
Pamela Dover, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc
Ellen East, Cox Communications, Inc.
Randy Fraser, Time Warner Cable
Reg Griffin, Comcast
Mark Harrad, Time Warner Cable
Maryann Kafer, Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association
Peter Kiley, C-SPAN Networks
Nancy Larkin, Fox Sports Net/New England
Marie Lasota, Comcast
Nathalie Lubensky, ABC Cable Networks Group
Kimberly Maki, SCTE
Cindy McConkey, Scripps Networks
Cheryl McCormick, LA Cable & Telecommunications Association
Wayne O'Dell, Cable Telecommunications Association of MD, DE & DC
Diane Pickett Culpepper, Bright House Networks
David Pierce, NCTA
Kim Roden, Time Warner Cable
Paul Rodriguez, NCTA
Carole Shander, Court Television Network
Hannah Sheinbaum, IFC Companies
W. Tom Simmons, Midcontinent Communications
Rob Stoddard, NCTA
Anthony Surratt, Cox Communications
Lee Tenebruso, Court Television Network
Teresa Wiedel, International Channel Networks
Jacquelyne Willis, BET Holdings, Inc.
Brian Wirth, Time Warner Cable

Lifetime Launches Every Women Counts with a Presidential Candidate Forum In New Hampshire
To ensure that women's voices are heard during this presidential election year, Lifetime Television launched a national public advocacy campaign Our Lifetime Commitment: Every Woman Counts. Lifetime kicked off the initiative on Sunday, January 25 with the Lifetime/ABC News "Good Morning America" Every Woman Counts 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidates Forum from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Moderated by ABC News senior national correspondent Claire Shipman, the forum was the first of the election year to focus exclusively on the issues most important to women. Democratic candidates Governor Howard Dean, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Senator Joseph Lieberman attended, and segments of the forum aired on ABC News "Good Morning America."

Lifetime's nonpartisan Every Woman Counts continues throughout 2004 on-air, online and in communities across the country with a series of national polls, nationwide voter registration efforts, training for women considering running for elected office and events at both the Republican and Democrat National Conventions.

Prior to the candidates' forum, Lifetime Television released the results of a nationwide telephone survey of more than 500 women about the issues that will play an important role in determining their vote. The poll finds significant dissatisfaction among Democratic, Republican and independent women voters on how the presidential candidates are addressing issues important to them. Eighty-five percent of the women surveyed said a candidate's position on violence against women would impact their vote, while 82% cited equal pay and women's health issues, 80% said breast cancer and 76% chose access to affordable child care. Yet nearly half of the women surveyed said they had heard nothing from the candidates directly or in the media on these issues. When asked which issues are extremely important in influencing their voting decision, 39% said jobs and the economy, 36% focused on equal pay and 36% stressed violence against women. In addition, 39% of the women believe a woman will be elected president within the next decade.

As a way of encouraging women to enter the political process as candidates for office, Lifetime's Every Woman Counts is partnering with the nonpartisan National Women's Political Caucus to conduct training sessions in communities across the country. In partnership with Loews Hotels, these all-day seminars cover various aspects of becoming a candidate and running a political campaign from fundraising to polling.

Every Woman Counts also will feature extensive on-air programming and online content to ensure that women are informed, to encourage them to register and vote and to let them know that they can and do make a difference in the political process. At the Every Woman Counts 2004 site, women can register to vote in their respective states. The site also provides an online forum for expressing opinions on a variety of pressing subjects and information on the presidential candidates including their views on various issues and video interviews created by the candidates discussing issues important to women voters.

 Get Ready for FORUM 2004! Reserve Your Hotels Room and Save on Registration
February 27th is the room reservation deadline for FORUM 2004. To make reservations call The Fairmont Hotel at 877-441-1414 or 202-429-2400 and reference FORUM 2004/CTPAA. The conference room rate is $209 (single/double). The theme for FORUM 2004 is "Communicating Cable's Value" and will be woven throughout the general sessions and break-out panels during CTPAA's 19^th annual educational conference, scheduled for March 21 to 24, 2004. The theme reflects the event's focus on how cable public affairs professionals can effectively communicate cable's value and technologically superior platform to customers, media, and government officials.

FORUM 2004 has already received speaking commitments from several esteemed industry executives including Glenn Britt, Chairman and CEO, Time Warner Cable; Brian Lamb, Chairman and CEO, C-SPAN Networks; Susan Packard, President, New Ventures, Scripps Networks; Carl Vogel, President and CEO, Charter Communications; Johnathan Rodgers, President & CEO, TV One; and Robert Sachs, President & CEO, National Cable & Telecommunications Association.

Register for FORUM 2004 by March 5, 2004, and save $100 from the final registration (March 6, 2004, or after) rate of $725. The Early Bird registration rate is $625. For information about FORUM 2004 registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.magnetmail.net/ls.cfm?r=2707054&sid=100783&m=27703&u=CTPPA&s=http://www.ctpaa.org/forum.shtml.

 BET Launches "A Healthy BET"
The BET Foundation has partnered with General Mills' Honey Nut Cheerios and Chex cereals in launching A Healthy BET, a nationwide campaign promoting healthy lifestyles and eating habits among BET's predominant African-American audience. BET hopes to bring down the high obesity rate of African Americans, particularly African-American females. Americans are dangerously overweight and obese, and for African-Americans, the statistics are worse than any population group. According to the American Obesity Association (AOA), 78% of African-American women are overweight; 51% are obese.

The Healthy BET initiative features several levels of outreach. BET and BET Jazz Networks are launching public service announcements from January through December 2004 featuring R & B singer Kelly Price and BET NIGHTLY NEWS anchor Jacque Reid. These ads will provide healthy lifestyle information, a toll-free number to obtain a free health and fitness brochure, and details on the Healthy BET Fitness Challenge.

The Healthy BET Fitness Challenge is a national contest encouraging healthy living. Contestants can enter from February 9 to February 27 by visiting http://www.magnetmail.net/ls.cfm?r=2707054&sid=100786&m=27703&u=CTPPA&s=http://www.bet.com/ahealthybet and describing why they want to take the BET Fitness Challenge in 100 words or less. Four finalists will be selected and receive a trip to a leading healthy resort, gym membership, a personal trainer for one month, a personal chef for one month, a supply of Honey Nut Cheerios and Chex cereals, other General Mills products and the Healthy BET Healthy Living Journal. The finalists have 60 days to achieve their fitness goals. At the conclusion of the challenge, the finalists who achieve their goals will win a trip for two to the 4^th Annual BET Awards in Hollywood, including airfare, hotel for three nights, tickets to the BET Awards, and $500 in spending money.

In addition to the Fitness Challenge and public service announcements, A Healthy BET includes seminars and public forums in various cities to discuss obesity and related issues and quarterly programming segments providing in-depth information on obesity. The BET Foundation and General Mills are also creating free brochures and cooking guides to promote healthy living. BET's toll-free hotline, 1-800-3LOSE-IT, will handle inquiries and process requests for brochures. BET will establish a Web site dedicated to A Healthy BET, which will include information on the Fitness Challenge, seminars and public forums, related programming, recipes, and community events. For more information, contact Michael Lewellen at michael.lewellen@bet.net.

 Time Warner Cable Sponsors Dr. Seuss-Style Writing Story Contest
Time Warner Cable has announced its fifth annual story writing contest title "Time 2 Write Seuss Style." The program encourages creativity and teamwork in grade school students and supports the National Education Association's Read Across America Campaign.

To enter the contest, classes in grades K-6 will write and illustrate their own Dr. Seuss-style story. Entries will be judged on creativity, contest and the story's lesson. Three grand prize entries will be chosen and acted out for the winner's school by the MYART theatre group. Winners will be announced on March 2, in honor of Dr. Suess' 100^th birthday and the NEA Read Across America Day. Top entries will also be featured on Time Warner's Web site. To see last year's winning stories, visit http://www.magnetmail.net/ls.cfm?r=2707054&sid=100788&m=27703&u=CTPPA&s=http://www.accesstimewarner.com/seuss. For more information, contact Deane Leavenworth at 818-998-2228.

 Support the Emma Bowen Foundation!
One of FORUM's distinctive traditions is the Silent Auction and Opening Reception. This year the Silent Auction will kick of FORUM on the evening of Sunday, March 21. For the sixth year, the Silent Auction will benefit the Emma L. Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media. The Foundation is dedicated to offering minority youth the support, education and skills needed to obtain jobs in the media industry.

Support the foundation by donating an item to the Silent Auction. Past popular items include the Beatles CD box set, collector's DVD's, personal electronics, tickets to live shows and concerts, and jewelry. All platinum items, donations valued at $500 and up, will be sold at a live and entertaining auction held during the reception.

To guarantee your donation is listed in the Silent Auction Bid Book, please send in the donation form by March 10, 2004. Please send all donated items to CTPAA, 1724 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036, by March 12, 2003.

 Oxygen Launches "Oh! Get the Money"
Oxygen has launched its fourth annual contest to help women start their own businesses. Three winners will receive $25,000 toward their business initiatives and a trip to New York City to attend a tailored business workshop led by Rosalind Resnick, a top small business expert. The "Oh! Get the Money" contest, formerly entitled Build Your Own Business, begins March 1, and extends through March 31^st.

Oxygen invites local cable system affiliates to partner with them on "Oh! Get the Money." As partners, cable systems can display point-of-sale materials with entry information at local cable offices and at local advertisers. They may also promote their high-speed Internet service as a crucial tool for starting a business or host an event sponsored by Oxygen in their community. The cable system participation deadline for "Oh! Get the Money" is February 25, 2004.

This year, the program is giving out more prize money to women than in previous years. To encourage entries, Oxygen will air "Oh! Get the Money" promotional spots featuring "entrepreneurial icons," such as Jose Natori, CEO of Natori Company; Marcia Kilgore, Founder of BillWorld; and Dylan Lauren, Founder of Dylan's CandyBar. General Motors Corporation is the presenting sponsor of "Oh! Get the Money."

Last year Oxygen received more than 12,000 entries in the Build Your Business program. Previous winners include women whose businesses produce wearable designs for handbags and bikini swimsuits from authentic concert T-Shirts, theme-related garden kits that allow children to experience the wonders of creating their own gardens, personalized memory quilts that utilize customers' own fabrics and mementos, and unique furniture made from "tapa," a Polynesian/Hawaiian fabric produced from hand-pounded mulberry bark. For more information, contact Oxygen's Mirian Arias at 212-651-9391.