New Media Luminaries Unite to Inspire and Activate Social Media Audiences throughout the Year in Support of Malaria Control

NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- (Office of Special Envoy) -- Today, United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, announced the formation of a Social Media Envoy group chartered with inspiring and activating social media audiences throughout the year in support of malaria control.  The Social Media Envoys are dedicated to utilizing their social profile to keep online and offline media audiences focused on the movement, milestones and resources required to achieve the Secretary-General's goal of providing all endemic African countries with malaria control interventions by the end of 2010. 

"In our efforts to reach the Secretary-General's 2010 goal of universal bed net coverage, and to reach the longer term goal of near-zero deaths from malaria by 2015, it is critical that acceleration continue in the malaria control movement," said Ray Chambers, United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria.  "Social media content and user driven syndication have proven to be exceptional media assets in generating action behind, elevating awareness of, and increasing resources for global malaria efforts.  With our malaria-related objectives within sight, this influential group of Social Media Envoys will help us exceed our awareness goals throughout the year."

The Social Media Envoys have agreed to take one social action, such as a tweet on Twitter or wall post on Facebook, in support of malaria control each month for 12 consecutive months.  The first organized social action from this group will take place on World Malaria Day, April 25, 2010.  The Social Media Envoys have been selected by the Special Envoy for Malaria due to the influence, size and engagement of their Social Web and broadcast audiences.

The 2010 Social Media Envoys include:

• Derrick Ashong, Musician, Social Activist & Oprah Radio host; www.twitter.com/ashong
• Veronica Belmont, Host of "Tekzilla" and "Qore" and Internet Personality; www.twitter.com/Veronica
• Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey; www.twitter.com/CoryBooker
• Sarah Brown, of the United Kingdom; www.twitter.com/SarahBrown10
• Pete Cashmore, CEO and founder of "Mashable—the Social Media Guide"; www.twitter.com/mashable
• Anderson Cooper, CNN Anchor of "Anderson Cooper 360"; www.twitter.com/andersoncooper
• Dennis Crowley, Co-founder of Foursquare; www.twitter.com/DENS
• Anil Dash, Director of Expert Labs and Partner at Activate; www.twitter.com/anildash
• Justine Ezarik "iJustine", Internet Personality; www.twitter.com/iJustine
• Jack Gray, CNN Producer/Writer for "Anderson Cooper 360"; www.twitter.com/JackGrayCNN
• Arianna Huffington, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post; www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
• Guy Kawasaki, Co-founder of Alltop.com; www.twitter.com/GuyKawasaki
• Larry King, CNN Host of "Larry King Live"; www.twitter.com/kingsthings
• Loic Le Meur, Founder and CEO of Seesmic; www.twitter.com/Loic
• Alyssa Milano, Actress; www.twitter.com/Alyssa_Milano
• Dave Morin, Former Facebook executive- responsible for Facebook Connect and Platform; www.twitter.com/davemorin
• Jeff Pulver, Founder of 140 Characters Conference (#140conf) and Co-founder of VoIP (Vonage); www.twitter.com/jeffpulver
• Kevin Rose, Founder of Digg; www.twitter.com/kevinrose
• Chris Sacca, Founder of Lowercase Capital; www.twitter.com/sacca
• Ryan Seacrest, Founder, Ryan Seacrest Productions; www.twitter.com/RyanSeacrest
• Biz Stone, Co-founder of Twitter; www.twitter.com/biz
• Padmasree Warrior, CTO of Cisco; www.twitter.com/padmasree
• Jon Wheatley, Co-founder of DailyBooth.com; www.dailybooth.com/jon
• Randi Zuckerberg, Director of Marketing, Facebook; www.facebook.com/Randi

Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter of the world's malaria control activities, with over 90 per cent of malaria deaths occurring on the continent.  Over 190 million long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets have been delivered since 2007, covering nearly 400 million people or over 50 per cent of the endemic population, compared to less than 10 per cent in 2005. 

"I'm so pleased to be a part of Ray Chambers' and the UN's efforts," said Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post.  "Their plan to use social media to keep the spotlight on the goal of eradicating deaths from malaria by 2015 is smart, forward-thinking, and, given the growing reach of social platforms, very pragmatic.  It's consciousness-raising and movement building 2.0."

For more information on the Office of the Special Envoy, visit malariaenvoy.com

SOURCE Office of the Special Envoy for Malaria

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