[blparent] Largest Newspaper Service for the Blind Now Offers Over 300 Newspapers

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

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

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org




Largest Newspaper Service for the Blind
Now Offers Over 300 Newspapers



NFB-NEWSLINE® Offers Blind Individuals More Content Choice



Baltimore, Maryland (October 12, 2009): The 
National Federation of the Blind announced today 
that NFB-NEWSLINE®, the largest electronic 
newspaper service in the world for blind and 
print-disabled Americans, now gives subscribers 
independent access to over three hundred 
newspapers and magazines.  This free service 
allows those who cannot read conventional 
newsprint due to a physical disability to listen 
to the newspaper over the telephone, on the web, 
or by download to a digital talking-book 
player.  With the addition of national 
newsmagazines like Time and interest-specific 
magazines like Science News to its roster of 
national and local publications, NFB-NEWSLINE® 
continues to cater to the increasingly divergent interests of its subscribers.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “NFB-NEWSLINE® is 
truly a testament to our belief in the importance 
of offering print-disabled individuals access to 
the same vital information that is available to 
our sighted peers.  NFB-NEWSLINE® offers 
subscribers freedom of choice, and now that over 
three hundred publications are available on the 
service, we have more choice than ever.”



Nijat Worley, a college student from 
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/>Colorado, said: “I can't tell you how much I 
enjoy being able to easily access so many 
newspapers and magazines!  All I need to do is 
pick up a phone or open a Web page and I can 
choose to read from hundreds of publications 
including my hometown newspaper or the New York 
Times, my favorite national newspaper.  As a 
sophomore with a double major in Political 
Science and International Affairs, the variety of 
news sources offered by NFB-NEWSLINE® really 
helps me find material for my coursework.  Since 
it’s available any time, day or night, I can read 
the news in accordance with my busy schedule.”



NFB-NEWSLINE®, which began operation in 1995, 
offers TV listings in addition to newspapers and 
magazines to over 69,000 subscribers through 
several delivery methods: a standard touch-tone 
telephone, a secure, text-only Web site, or by 
download to a digital talking-book player.



To experience the variety of choice offered with 
NFB-NEWSLINE®, please visit 
<http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org/>www.nfbnewslineonline.org. 
For further information, please e-mail Scott 
White at <mailto:swhite at nfb.org>swhite at nfb.org or call (866) 504-7300.





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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.