MPT’S ’Knowing Poe’ Named Best Education Web Site in 9th Annual Webby Awards; Thinkport Online Field Trip Receives Top International Honor for Web Sites

OWINGS MILLS, Md., May 18 -- The Webby Awards, the leading international honor for Web sites, today named Maryland Public Television’s “Knowing Poe” as the Best Education Web site of 2005.

Knowing Poe ( http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org ), unlocks the door to one of America’s most compelling authors Edgar Allan Poe and provides opportunities to interact with Poe the person and Poe the writer. This highly engaging and interactive site is a featured component of Thinkport, MPT’s education super site for teachers, parents and students.

Hailed as the “online Oscars” by Time Magazine, winning a Webby Award is an unparalleled accolade recognizing the very best of the Internet. With over 4,300 sites entered from all 50 states and over 40 countries, Webby Winners truly represent the best of the Web.

The Webby Awards are determined by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization with a membership that includes musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.

Winners will be honored at The 9th Annual Webby Awards, which will be held for the first-time ever in New York City on June 6 at the legendary Gotham Hall. Hosted by comedian Rob Corrdry of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the ceremony will showcase the first-ever Webby Special Achievement Awards.

More than 400 luminaries from the fields of media, advertising, business, technology, entertainment, politics and the arts will be in attendance at the event.

“The 9th Annual Webby Awards provide both a remarkable snapshot of digital life today and a powerful sneak preview of where we are going next,” said Tiffany Shlain, creative director and chairperson of The Webby Awards. “We’re proud to shine a spotlight on outstanding sites like MPT’s ”Knowing Poe"

Villainy, Inc, another of Thinkport’s Online Field Trips was also honored with a “Webby Worthy” award in education. Also found on Thinkport, Villainy, Inc. provides quirky animated missions as a path to learn middle school math. http://villainyinc.thinkport.org

“Our online field trips have proven to be an effective model for engaging students in active learning. We’re proud to have developed a means to harness the power of digital technology to reach today’s high tech kids,” says Gail Porter Long, MPT vice president and chief education officer.

Thinkport is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Star School program. http://www.thinkport.org

For more information on The Webby Awards, please visit: http://www.webbyawards.com

Maryland Public Television is a not-for-profit, state-licensed public television station which serves the citizens and communities of Maryland and beyond through a variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast activities. For more information on MPT and its on- and off-air programming, visit http://www.mpt.org.

Contact Information

Betsy Peisach

Media Contact

Maryland Public Television

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