The spread of new technology is changing the way people get their information. To remain relevant in a changing world, the Washington County Public Affairs Forum is keeping pace with those changes.

We have recently added "web radio" to our web site. This feature allows people to hear the audio from past forum broadcasts when it is most convenient for them.

Our web radio is based on the podcasting technology that is so much in the media these days. When something is developed as a podcast it can be shared on many different web devices. These devices could include web sites, iPods, cell phones, or practically any device that is hooked to the internet.

For example, the audio from our programs is now also being broadcast over the Democracy for Oregon web site. A snippet of computer code makes it possible for their web site to list all the web radio programs we currently offer. When we update our podcast, the information on their web site is automatically updated as well.

This makes it possible to distribute (syndicate) our programs all over the internet. Anyone can include our web radio broadcasts into their web site, ipod, or browser. The information is freely available to everyone, regardless of their political point of view.

Our web site receives about 1800 visitors (10,600 hits) per month. Though this number fluxuates some, the trend has consistently been one of growth. Usually within a week of posting a new speaker on the speakers page, the search engines will list our site when you search for their name.

Each month the forum sends electronic press releases to twenty-nine reporters and media organizations. We also have an electronic newsletter we send to one hundred and thirty seven people each month. The e-newsletter saves us enough money in postage to cover the cost of this web site.

The technology behind the internet is rapidly evolving, the opportunities to get our programing out are expanding, and the costs continue to drop. We will be looking for even more new ways to take advantage of these burgeoning opportunities.