White Paper Series Addresses Value of Public Affairs; First in Three-Part Series Receives Acclaim at CTPAA Forum.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Following the release of a co-published white paper on the value of public affairs at the CTPAA Forum (May 1-4, 2005), Topics Education and the Cable Television Public Affairs Association today announced that this paper marks the first in a series aimed at exploring how public affairs contributes to the cable industry.

"This series provides the research foundation for some very exciting analysis of public affairs in the cable industry," stated Brett Pawlowski, vice president of strategic services at Topics Education. "By working with CTPAA to gather feedback on public affairs' role and to then analyze the results this function generates, we hope to provide insight and actionable information for its membership and the industry at large."

The initial white paper, "The ROI of Public Affairs," written by Pawlowski, focuses on demonstrating the importance of public affairs and establishing universal understanding of that value within the practitioner's organization. Subsequent components in the series concentrate on the important subject of public affairs and its significance within corporate practices. Published in partnership with CTPAA, these white papers are intended to provide information and insight to management, analysts, media and thought leaders in the cable industry.

--The ROI of Public Affairs (released May 1, 2005 at CTPAA FORUM) - This paper highlights existing research pointing to the value of the public affairs function and argues for an approach to shared understanding and measurement.

--CTPAA Membership Survey - Topics Education will survey CTPAA members on the ROI of public affairs within their organizations: how the value of public affairs is perceived, how its efforts are directed, and how measurement is used. This is scheduled for release in Q3, 2005.

--Study of Past Public Affairs Campaigns - Working from a large database of write-ups of past public affairs campaigns in the industry (pulled from Beacon entries), Topics Education will identify common areas of emphasis, how measurement has been used in top-tier campaigns, and how future campaigns can be better targeted based on the lessons of the past. This is scheduled for release in Q4, 2005.

"I found 'The ROI of Public Affairs' to be relevant and well-written, and I would encourage public affairs practitioners to read it," said Mike Lawrence, executive vice president of Cone and a speaker at the CTPAA Forum.

"Our members continue to find innovative ways of contributing to the success of their organizations, and this series of white papers will provide insight to practitioners and managers alike on their roles, responsibilities, and successes," said Steve Jones, executive director of CTPAA. "We're pleased to build on the success of our initial collaboration and look forward to developing this series of papers with Topics Education."

During 2004, CTPAA and Topics Education completed a survey and published information on the ways in which technology impacts the development of public affairs campaigns in a report entitled, "Uncovering the Role of Technology in Public Affairs." This collaboration sparked conversation and an expanded partnership that will result in these three white papers.

About Topics Education

Topics Education offers strategic planning and support services to organizations interested in understanding and communicating with the world of education. The company designs and implements customized education outreach initiatives that drive learning in schools, homes, and communities, thereby reinforcing brand identity and building goodwill for its clients. Topics Education offers a complete range of services including: market analysis, public affairs strategy, project architecture, partnership development, instructional design, creative services, marketing and outreach, and evaluation and measurement. Topics Education's customer base includes The Weather Channel, Court TV, The SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Junior Achievement, Citigroup, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Save the Children. Topics Education is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and was founded in 1995.

About the CTPAA

CTPAA is the only national, professional organization specifically addressing the issues, needs and interests of the cable industry's public affairs professionals. Its mission is to develop and promote public affairs excellence to help achieve industry, corporate and social goals. A strong advocate of the public affairs professional's participation in all aspects of corporate decision-making processes, CTPAA works to enhance each member's status and influence through skill building and professional development.