NFB-NEWSLINE® Adds Five Meredith Magazines to Lineup

New Publications Offer More Content, More Variety to Subscribers

BALTIMORE, March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind is pleased to announce that NFB-NEWSLINE®—its free service that provides independent access by print-disabled people to hundreds of local and national publications as well as TV and job listings—has partnered with Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) to offer five leading publications to subscribers.  

The addition of Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents, and Fitness will expand the already-wide variety of content offered by the service, including magazines that focus on science, technology, and culture.  Offering more than 300 newspapers, magazines, and wire feeds, NFB-NEWSLINE® provides subscribers with on-demand access and the ability to read only those sections and articles of interest to the user from the publications available.  Subscribers may read their favorite publications via a variety of methods, including using a touch-tone telephone, accessing content on the Web, or downloading publications to a digital talking book player or MP3 player.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "These magazines—in addition to the thirty other magazines offered through this groundbreaking and critically important service—will increase the value of NFB-NEWSLINE® to subscribers.  The National Federation of the Blind is pleased that NFB-NEWSLINE® continues to expand the diversity of its offerings to meet the variety of subscribers' interests and needs.  These new magazines, which are being offered for the first time in their entirety to blind and print-disabled individuals, will benefit these readers by providing the information they need to enhance their health, homes, and family life."

"Meredith helps women create rich and meaningful lives by focusing on the three areas that matter most—their families, their homes, and their health and well-being," said Tom Harty, President of the Meredith National Media Group.  "Partnering with NFB-NEWSLINE® gives us the opportunity to provide this high-quality and service-oriented content to even more women on an additional media platform."

"This is fantastic news for our subscribers," said Scott White, who directs the NFB-NEWSLINE® program.  "Meredith magazines will provide our subscribers with content that reflects their areas of interest.  With these publications, NFB-NEWSLINE® expands its ability to provide the blind and others who cannot read print with interesting and useful information."

NFB-NEWSLINE® allows those who cannot read conventional newsprint due to a visual or physical disability to access publications as well as television and job listings over the telephone, on the Web, or by download to digital talking book players or MP3-playing devices.

To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE®, please visit www.nfbnewsline.org.  Those interested in subscribing to the service may fill out the online application form, write to [email protected], or call (866) 504-7300.  In order to be eligible for NFB-NEWSLINE®, an individual must be a US resident who is legally blind or has a physical or learning disability that prevents the independent reading of newspapers.  

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.

About Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) is the leading media and marketing company serving American women. Meredith features multiple well-known national brands – including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Fitness, More and American Baby – along with local television brands in fast-growing markets. Meredith is the industry leader in creating content in key consumer interest areas such as home, family, health and wellness and self-development. Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including print, television, online, mobile, Tablets, and video – to give consumers content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. According to the Advertising Industry Reports (AIR) survey of over 1,500 agency and marketing professionals, Meredith is the nation's "Highest Rated Media Company."

Additionally, Meredith uses its many assets to create powerful custom marketing solutions for many of the nation's top brands and companies. Meredith has significantly added to its marketing solution capabilities in recent years through the acquisition of cutting-edge companies in areas such as digital, mobile, word-of-mouth, social and database marketing.

SOURCE National Federation of the Blind