3/3/97 Contact: Ralph Izard, 593-2590

ATHENS, Ohio -- The C-SPAN School Bus will visit Athens Wednesday (March 5) on its continuing tour of schools and cable systems across the United States.

The 45-foot motor coach will be parked on South Court Street by Scripps Hall from 8 a.m. to noon. Ohio University and public school students, educators and community members are invited to visit the bus for a hands-on demonstration of C-SPAN and its 24-hour public affairs programming on cable television. Half the bus serves as a mobile classroom and the other half is a working production studio.

"The C-SPAN bus will bring to Ohio University some of the latest in communication technology," said Ralph Izard, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, which sponsored the bus visit. "The School of Journalism fully agrees with the university's goal of giving students opportunities to experience the latest techniques in presenting up-to-date news. We hope large numbers of them will take advantage of this visit, and we're indebted to C-SPAN for including us on the tour."

While the C-SPAN bus is on the road, C-SPAN follows its progress by televising on-air updates, short programs broadcast from historical sites and public affairs events.

C-SPAN, a public service created by America's cable television companies, airs locally on Continental Cablevision and is currently available in 68 million households nationwide.