June 4, 2007 "“ Population Communications International (PCI), a global not-for-profit producer of TV and radio shows in over 25 countries, announced today that it has changed its name to PCI-Media Impact. PCI-Media Impact will continue to utilize the power of storytelling and the reach of broadcast media to improve people's health, promote human rights, and foster social change worldwide.

"I am delighted we are now making the name change official," said Mike Castlen, PCI-Media Impact's Executive Director. "While PCI maintained a well-recognized brand for over twenty years, our new name truly reflects our belief that creative media can address the concerns of people living in the world’s neediest places."

In the past year 31 PCI-Media Impact shows have been on the air in 9 Latin American countries. The successful My Community media platform has rapidly expanded the organization's programming network. PCI-Media Impact has also broadened its regional initiatives with Peru-based partner, Calandria, by jointly developing new entertainment-education programs and formats through TV, radio and the Internet. Finally, its partnership with the Red + Hot Organization "“ which agreed to lend a portion of its impressive archive of popular hit songs to PCI-Media Impact's radio and TV shows "“ has enriched and reinforced the storytelling experience.

Since its founding, PCI-Media Impact has co-produced more than 75 radio and TV programs in 27 countries, reaching an estimated audience of 153 million people worldwide in the last three years alone. New programs and partnerships in Central Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe are being planned.

To learn more about how PCI-Media Impact helps underserved communities face challenges and saves lives, read this special report: "Entertainment-Education Programming and the Millennium Development Goals: A PCI White Paper" at http://www.pci-mediaimpact.org/whitepaper/PCI_White_Paper07.pdf

PCI-Media Impact's redesigned website will launch this summer at www.pci-mediaimpact.org.

About PCI-Media Impact

Since 1985, PCI-Media Impact's programs have addressed the root causes of poverty and have encouraged people to make choices that lead to better health and sustainable development. Working with local partners worldwide, PCI-Media Impact produces carefully researched and culturally sensitive radio and television dramas that combine the power of storytelling with the reach of broadcast media. For more information, please visit PCI-Media Impact's website at www.pci-mediaimpact.org.

PCI-Media Impact

PCI-Media Impact

PCI-Media Impact is at the forefront of innovative social change communications programming. Its pioneering approach uses creative media, the power of storytelling and the reach of broadcast media to mobilize individual, community and political action in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, environmental conservation and sustainable development, human rights and democracy.

For over twenty years, its programming has captured people's imagination. Media Impact has trained hundreds of organizations and community leaders in the effective use of media. Working with media professionals, it has completed more than 242 productions, including radio and television serial dramas, comic books, documentaries and public service announcements reaching hundreds of millions of people in 27 countries around the world.

From Mexico to India, Kenya to China, Media Impact has been: "Telling Stories, Saving Lives." For more information, please visit the website at www.mediaimpact.org.

PCI Media Impact Videos:

Click here to watch Who is Media Impact?
Click here to watch Behind the Scenes of PCI Media Impact
Click here to watch Taru Has Changed My Life: Educational Radio Soap Opera

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