WASHINGTON, April 10, 2007 — washingtonpost.com, the award-winning news and information Web site, today announced high-definition (HD) podcasts, designed to be viewed on HD television and computer screens, are now available on iTunes (www.itunes.com). In a first for a news organization, the award-winning documentary videos created by the washingtonpost.com multimedia team also conform to the highest specifications for the new Apple TV, making it easier than ever to view extremely quality news content anywhere, any time users want it.
"The demand for high quality video via the Web is surpassing that of the supply. Consumers are eager to adopt HD content to move away from the drab experience of watching it within a small box on their computer screens," said Tom Kennedy, Managing Editor, Multimedia, washingtonpost.com. "High-definition is the future of video; we have moved beyond standard definition to provide viewers with a higher standard. We knew we needed to evolve past web video to remain a relevant, innovative news source."
All washingtonpost.com videos are shot with high-definition cameras, and the series available on iTunes is coded to play in 720p. The HD videos will also be available for download from washingtonpost.com at www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts.
Examples of documentaries included in the series:
"The washingtonpost.com's multimedia team has worked hard to hone not only their technical skills, but also their storytelling skills," said Kennedy. "This team has invested in providing outstanding content and quality journalism, and in turn we've invested in the technology they need to keep growing without limitations."
Washingtonpost.com has been producing web video since 1998, and moved to high-definition cameras in 2006 in anticipation of the wide-spread adoption of HD technology.
About Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Washingtonpost.com is the award-winning news and information Web site of the Washington Post. It offers world-class journalism, a remarkable blend of traditional reporting, and innovative, multimedia content that provides an unmatched level of depth and texture to breaking stories as well as features, plus unique ways for reader to engage with the site, its capabilities and content.
One of four online properties published by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, washingtonpost.com is the recipient of the first-ever Emmy for original video journalism online and has won numerous other awards, including an EPpy Award for Best Overall Newspaper-Affiliated Site, several Digital Edge Awards, a 2007 National Journalism Award for Web Reporting, National Press Photographers' Association Best of Photojournalism Award, and three consecutive Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence for Non-Broadcast Affiliated Website, among others. According to the 2007 Project for Excellence in Journalism, washingtonpost.com is a "High Achiever" as an online news site, earning strong marks in terms of branding, content customization, multimedia and user participation.
For more information, please visit www.washingtonpost.com.
About Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI) is the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). Its mission is to create truly interactive platforms that offer unmatched user experiences by developing editorial products with world-class reporting, multimedia features and award-winning content.
WPNI's news and information sites, which include washingtonpost.com, Slate, Newsweek.com and Budget Travel Online, inform and encourage conversation and debate while reaching millions of unique and active users each month. WPNI properties' long lists of awards include the first-ever Emmy for original video journalism online awarded to washingtonpost.com, as well as National Journalism Awards, Pictures of the Year International Award, several Digital Edge Awards, multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards and White House New Photographer's Association Awards, among others.
The company is headquartered in Arlington, VA
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