STATE AND FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHES ENDOWMENT FUND FOR WKSU COVERAGE OF LOCAL ELECTIONS

Monday June 25, 2007

For immediate release
Contact: Robert J. Burford,
Public Relations Director
(330) 672-3114
burford@wksu.org

WKSU announces the establishment of an earmarked endowment for local election coverage funded through a $25,000 gift from Akron's State and Federal Communications under the direction of its president and CEO, Elizabeth Z. Bartz. Bartz established the endowment at this time to ensure that it would produce usable funds for the 2008 elections. Each year, 5% of interest from the State and Federal Communications Endowment for Local Election Coverage will be made available to the WKSU newsroom at the station's discretion. The endowment will be administered through the Kent State University Foundation.

Bartz first came into contact with WKSU shortly after graduating from Kent State when she took a position as acting director of public information at the station. Soon after leaving WKSU, she took a job in Washington, DC working as associate editor of Campaign & Elections and then as publications director of State and Federal Associates. In 1993, Bartz purchased SFA's compliance services and publications divisions and returned to Ohio to establish State and Federal Communications in Akron. Previously, State and Federal Communications has supported WKSU through sponsorship of the station’s live broadcast of NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me" at the Akron Civic in 2003 and by helping send Reporter/Producers Mark Urycki and Kevin Niedermier, respectively, to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in 2004.

"I have a special place in my heart for WKSU," Bartz says. "I was given the opportunity to work there in my first job. Through the years, the station has grown and is now a valued asset to the local community. I am an ardent listener to WKSU, and to National Public Radio whenever I travel. We are pleased that this endowment from State and Federal Communications will ensure that WKSU can continue its fine work in providing coverage of our local elections for many years to come."

WKSU General Manager Al Bartholet adds, "I have known Elizabeth Bartz since we were both recent Kent State grads with entry-level jobs at WKSU. It is exciting that State and Federal Communications is now in a position to offer ongoing support to local election reporting, a topic that should be covered as much as possible to create a more educated listening audience and help protect the American democracy."

State and Federal Communications Inc. is an industry leader in providing information on legal and reporting requirements for political contributions and campaign finance, state lobbying laws, and procurement lobbying. The company maintains a team of attorneys and compliance specialists who track compliance-related laws covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Federal level, and many municipalities. During its history, State and Federal Communications has served hundreds of institutional, association, law firm, and corporate clients, including more than 100 of the top Fortune 500 companies. In 1985, the company pioneered ALERTS, an extensive compliance consulting service for key corporate clients and their lobbyists, providing lobbyist registration, tracking and filing the hundreds of required compliance activity reports due annually in all states.

Bartz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Kent State University. Among her many professional affiliations, she serves on the boards of directors of State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) and the Akron Press Club, is on the steering committee of the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) and is a member of the government relations committee of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as co-chair of the Levy and Budget Review Committee for the Summit County Social Services Advisory Board. In 2005, she was included in the "Women of Note" issue Crain's Cleveland Business. On July 11, United Way, Summit County will present Bartz with the award for Woman Philanthropist of the Year.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover-New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, and W298BA 107.5 in Boardman. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

PR10.07 ### 6/25/07
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