New Vodcasts Showcase Philadelphia's Diverse Neighborhoods

Vodcasts Are The Latest New Media Addition To gophila.com And uwishunu.com

PHILADELPHIA, May 15, 2008 – Video podcasts—also known as vodcasts—are the newest tool visitors can use to plan their trip to Philadelphia, and they’re now available on the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s (GPTMC) gophila.com and uwishunu.com. The series of free three- to five-minute themed video tours guide visitors through some of the city’s most colorful neighborhoods and complement seven dynamically mapped and customizable podcast tours already available on gophila.com/soundabout. One of the new vodcasts highlights significant African-American heritage sites, while the other three showcase the local shops, watering holes and cultural spots of Chinatown, Fishtown/Kensington and University City.

As more travelers use online tools to research and plan their trips, the new vodcasts are a natural next step for GPTMC’s SoundAboutPhilly® podcast project, which launched in November 2006. The online media development is also an appropriate new phase for GPTMC’s Philadelphia Neighborhood Tour program, which offered Saturday morning tours of the city’s diverse neighborhoods from 2002 to 2006.

Tour Topics & Guides:

Three of the vodcasts focus on the distinct Philly neighborhoods of Chinatown, Fishtown/Kensington and University City and were produced in partnership with Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, New Kensington Community Development Corporation and University City District respectively. The segments give an overview of the area, eating and drinking, arts and culture and another unique aspect of the community, such as green initiatives in Fishtown and Kensington or shopping in Chinatown. The fourth vodcast, Quest for Freedom, is part of a statewide initiative to bring the history of the Underground Railroad to the public’s attention and to build awareness of Philadelphia’s leadership role in the anti-slavery movement. The first video explores the Johnson House Historic Site, a critical stop on the Underground Railroad. Additional videos on this topic are in the works.

Locals leading the tours include:

Mark Christman, marketing associate at University City District and founder of Arts Nova Workshop

Albert Lee, born and raised in Philadelphia’s Chinatown

Candace Karch, owner of Fishtown’s Bambi Gallery

Naomi Nelson, president of Curriboo Enterprises

What’s Next?:

GPTMC is partnering with the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation to create vodcasts about Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Germantown and West Oak Lane. Videos about El Centro de Oro (5th Street and Lehigh Avenue), one of the city’s most prominent Latino neighborhoods, are being planned with the Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises.

All of the tours are now available on gophila.com. uwishunu.com will post a different vodcast every Thursday starting in mid-May.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For high-resolution photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit the photo gallery of www.gophila.com/pressroom.

Release Date: Thursday, May 22nd 2008