Local Organizations Now Have a Voice Online

    ATLANTA, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In mid-November, community organizations
will have a new way to reach out to their Atlanta neighbors, courtesy of
AccessAtlanta.  Through a new software tool that uses "cut and paste"
technology, community groups can now create their own Web pages at no
charge inside AccessAtlanta with the click of a mouse, even if they aren't
"computer-savvy."
    "The advantage of our AccessAtlanta Community Web page is that we can
create and update it instantly from our office without any special computer
knowledge," said Sarita Gonzalez, president of the Atlanta Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce, one of the groups already online through the AccessAtlanta Community
Directory.  "It allows us to disseminate new information to our membership
more rapidly than we've ever been able to share it before...a tremendous
improvement in our chamber's communication."
    The Community Directory is aimed at non-profit and community groups who
may not be able to create their own Web sites.  Using simple Internet
software, community organizations can build their own information pages inside
the AccessAtlanta city Web site.  Dozens of groups that will be active in
mid-November have been working in partnership with AccessAtlanta over the past
several months to develop and create their own online Web pages.  The groups
were chosen to represent a variety of community interests.
    "The software makes it easy for even the newest Internet users to build
pages for their organization," said Nancy Nethery, general manager of
AccessAtlanta's Atlanta Studio.  "We're providing this service at no charge to
local groups, from neighborhood associations and civic groups to arts and
recreation organizations in Atlanta so that they can stay in touch with
members.  It's part of our community service as the city's leading Web site."
    The Atlanta Gator Club, for example, offers information about football-
viewing parties, University of Florida alumni road trips and collegiate sports
for Florida fans who live "deep in enemy territory."  Other groups in the
AccessAtlanta community range from the South Winds Sailing Club to the
Gainesville Theater Alliance.
    "The technology needed to be easy to use, so we decided to test it with a
variety of groups that had a wide range of Internet experience," Ms. Nethery
said.  "We wanted to ensure that the process and technology made sense to the
non-technical Internet user."
    Organizations may apply to join the AccessAtlanta Community Directory via
e-mail to community@cim.accessatlanta.com or by phoning 404-572-1904.  For
information online, the address is http://www.accessatlanta.com/community.
    AccessAtlanta partners with the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, WSB-TV and
WSB-AM/FM radio to provide the latest in news and information to Atlantans on
the Web in a dynamic format that incorporates state-of-the-art multimedia
technology and enhanced search capabilities.  AccessAtlanta is free to all
Internet users.
    For more information, please call AccessAtlanta at 404-572-1800.
    Note:  In addition to the AccessAtlanta site, other local CIMnet city
sites include: ActiveDayton.com (http://www.activedayton.com), Austin360
(http://www.austin360.com), GoCarolinas.com (http://www.gocarolinas.com) and BayInsider.com
(http://www.bayinsider.com).  These city sites provide users specific content unique
to their communities, opportunities for online interaction with others and
access to online services.  Specialty sites like FASTBALL.com
(http://www.fastball.com) and Y'all (http://www.yall.com) have also been established to
focus on specific topics that have regional or national appeal.
    Through city sites like the one established in Atlanta, Cox Interactive
Media provides vital interactive links among local, national and worldwide
communities.  To date, CIMnet includes 15 city sites and six specialty Web
sites.  By December 31, 1997, CIMnet will include more than 25 Web sites.  In
the past year, CIM has hired 225 people and by mid-1998 will employ
400 people.
    A leading media company, Cox Enterprises Inc. includes Cox Newspapers Inc.
(newspapers, direct-mail marketing, book publishing), Cox Broadcasting Inc.
(TV, spot sales, television production, research, publicly traded Cox Radio
Inc. (NYSE: CXR)) and publicly traded Cox Communications Inc., ((NYSE: COX) --
cable distribution, programming, broadband communications) in addition to Cox
Interactive Media.  The company is also the world's largest operator of
automobile auctions through Manheim Auctions, providing financial services,
government auctions, online services and price guides.

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