wfn.org | Odyssey Applaudes PBS

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (301
notes).

Note 301 by UMNS on Sept. 5, 1997 at 15:39 Eastern (3311 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Linda Green                                                 (10-71B)
           Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470                       Sept. 5, 1997

Odyssey Network applaudes PBS 
launch of religious news show

by Nancye M. Willis*

      NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-- The Sept. 7 launch of a weekly
religion news program by a New York City PBS-TV affiliate is being
applauded by an official of the Odyssey cable network, which
launched its own weekly religion news show in February.
      Citing a 1993 study conducted by the Freedom Forum First
Amendment Center here, Odyssey official Wil Bane said, ~Channel
13~s entry into this field illustrates what has been proven
through objective research.~ 
       Bane, a staff member of United Methodist Communications
(UMCom) here, said Channel 13~s ~Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly~ and
~News Odyssey,~ produced by UMCom for Odyssey, respond to the
study~s conclusion that ~the U.S. public is interested in news
about religious and spiritual matters.~
      ~PBS and Odyssey recognize the public's interest and are
providing programming that reports on moral and ethical issues
associated with world news,~ said Bane, who played a key role in
helping found the Odyssey network in 1988. 
      Both 30-minute series feature incisive reporting, interviews 
with news makers and religion-and-culture segments. ~News Odyssey~
also features commentary on timely issues by individuals
particularly well-equipped to speak to current issues.
      Since its February debut, ~News Odyssey~ has aired reports
and related interviews on wide-ranging subjects including
abortion, cloning, ordination of women, homelessness, religious
persecution, clergy sexual abuse and racism.
      Beginning in October, ~News Odyssey~ becomes a designated
~Cable in the Classroom~ program, offered to educators commercial-
free, to tape and replay.  The addition continues an ongoing
relationship between ~Cable in the Classroom~ and Odyssey,
providing programs that examine the pressing moral, ethical and
spiritual issues of the day.    
      Also beginning in October, "News Odyssey" airs on Odyssey
Thursdays at 9 p.m., repeated Thursdays at midnight, Sundays at 9 
p.m. and Mondays at 12:30 a.m. (all times ET).  It is also
available on a number of cable and broadcast stations nationwide.
      A weekly leaders' guide, which links subjects covered by on-
air personalities to biblical and other discussion starters;
transcripts of each show and other related information are
accessible from Thursdays through the rest of the week at
www.umc.org/newsodyssey on the Internet.
      The Odyssey channel, which reaches almost 30 million
households in nearly 1,500 cable systems, is jointly owned by
subsidiaries of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition Inc.
(NICC) and of Tele-Communications Inc.  NICC is a consortium of 64
Protestant, Jewish, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faith groups,
including the United Methodist Church. 
# # #
*Nancye M. Willis is marketing information specialist at United
Methodist Communications.

'send[D[D[D[D[D[D.[C[C[C[C[C[C[Dt[Dunited methodist daily news 97'

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