Karen Ryan is a public relations specialist, and former television news reporter, who became famous for producing controversial video news release created to promote the Medicare and education systems for the United States government. Her appearance in the video was widely shown, including her closing words, "In Washington, this is Karen Ryan reporting."
Ryan, in conjunction with the firm Home Front Communications, produced "The Government Answers Your Questions on Medicare" with funds from the Department of Health and Human Services. Many U.S. local news stations ran the segment, thinking it was a journalistic report, even though it was financed by the federal government. On May 19, 2004, the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, said that federal laws had been violated, because federal money cannot be used for "publicity or propaganda purposes" unless authorized by Congress. The GAO declared "the video news releases did not alert viewers that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was the source." However, as the GAO is not involved with enforcement, the ramifications of the findings are unclear.
The Apprentice is the thirteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe. This short story and addendum to Dark Journey by Elaine Cunningham was published in the eighth issue of Star Wars Gamer in 2002. It was shortlisted for the Prix de la Plume Noire by the French Committee for Experimental Literature.
Jaina Solo struggles with the dark side of the Force as she apprentices herself to renegade Jedi Kyp Durron. The story covers the part of Jaina's fateful visit to the planet Gallinore that was glossed over in the book Dark Journey.
The term Information and Communication for Development (ICD) spans the full range of issues around information and communication for international development: from radio to the internet; content to delivery; and policy to practical application on the ground.
Many international aid agencies are now recognising the importance of ICD. For example the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has a dedicated team working on these issues.
This field is a rising field. However, evaluations of the impact of ICTs for development are rare.
On May 17, 2004 Spain coach Iñaki Sáez named a 23-man squad for the Euro 2004 championships which took place in Portugal from June 12 to July 4.