[Blindtlk] NFB-NEWSLINE® Delivers Three Million Minutes of News in March

[David Andrews]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

NFB-NEWSLINE® Delivers Three Million Minutes of News in March

Baltimore, Maryland (April 9, 2010): The National 
Federation of the Blind is pleased to announce 
that NFB-NEWSLINE®—its free service that provides independent
access by print-disabled people to hundreds of 
local and national publications and TV 
listings—delivered a record-setting three million minutes of news
to its subscribers in March.

NFB-NEWSLINE®'s record-setting month capped off 
an exciting start to 2010, including a long line 
of recent improvements and additions to the system.  NFB-NEWSLINE®
In Your Pocket—a dynamic software application for 
personal computers, which through an Internet 
connection automatically downloads the publications of
a subscriber’s choice to his or her digital 
talking-book player—is now compatible with two 
more digital talking-book players, the BookSense and Book Port
Plus.

NFB-NEWSLINE® now offers more publications than 
ever before, with 317 newspapers and magazines 
available, which can be accessed by a number of methods: by
download to a digital talking-book player, over 
the telephone, or on the Web.  Most recently, 
NFB-NEWSLINE® added several prominent magazines, including
the Smithsonian, Time, and The New Republic.  The 
newest addition to the list of magazines 
available is Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind, which contains
features of specific interest to the 
blind.  NFB-NEWSLINE® subscribers can now also 
administer access to their favorite publications through the NFB-NEWSLINE®
Web site (www.nfbnewsline.org), deciding which 
publications they wish to receive by phone, via 
the Web site, by e-mail, or with NFB-NEWSLINE® In Your Pocket.
  The Web interface allows each user to maintain 
separate lists of favorite publications for each delivery method.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “The 
record-setting number of minutes of news 
delivered in March clearly demonstrates
that NFB-NEWSLINE® is reaching more subscribers 
than ever before.  This vital service­­­­­—which 
offers the print-disabled unprecedented, round-the-clock
access to news and information—continues to grow, 
regularly adding new publications and new 
features.  We are extremely proud of the NFB-NEWSLINE® team
for its hard work and dedication to providing the 
best service possible to subscribers.”

NFB-NEWSLINE® allows those who cannot read 
conventional newsprint due to a visual or 
physical disability to access newspapers and magazines by download
to a digital talking-book player, over the telephone, or on the Web.

To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE®, please visit
www.nfbnewsline.org.
Those interested in subscribing to the service 
may fill out the online application form, write to
nfbnewsline at nfb.org,
or call (866) 504-7300.  In order to be eligible 
for NFB-NEWSLINE®, an individual must be a US 
resident who is legally blind or has a physical or learning
disability that prevents the independent reading of newspapers.

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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National 
Federation of the Blind is the largest and most 
influential membership organization of blind people in the United
States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, 
technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.
It is the leading force in the blindness field 
today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In 
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.