Public Radio International® and TravBuddy launch interactive Geo Quiz Challenge game

MINNEAPOLIS, May 11, 2009 — Public Radio International (PRI) and TravBuddy announce the release of Geo Quiz Challenge, an engaging online game that tests users' knowledge of places around the globe. Using the popular Geo Quiz radio segment heard daily on PRI's "The World," an award-winning global news program, PRI and TravBuddy have developed a game that covers locations, people and events worldwide through enticing questions with multiple choice answers. Geo Quiz Challenge is currently available on the partners' Web sites —
www.pri.org and www.travbuddy.com — as well as the program Web site, theworld.org. The game is also available to the over 270 PRI affiliate stations that carry "The World," enabling a fuller complement of current broadcast and online listeners to play, share and connect with new online fans.

PRI Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategy Cory Zanin says, "We're very pleased to partner with TravBuddy on this exciting venture. Working together, we've developed a way to further build community and present 'The World's' stellar content on a new platform. Geo Quiz Challenge is not only a lot of fun, it's also a terrific vehicle to connect those who love travel, while helping them better understand our interconnected world."

TravBuddy CEO Eric Bjorndahl says, "As avid listeners of 'The World,' we are excited to partner with PRI in bringing the Geo Quiz to a fun new online format. Travel and understanding of the world go hand in hand, and it is our hope that the Geo Quiz Challenge will both entertain and educate thousands of players from around the globe."  

Heard on each edition of PRI's 'The World," the Geo Quiz poses and answers a question on an interesting person, place or thing in the world. The Geo Quiz Challenge draws on the entire archive of those questions and invites online participants to answer a question in 60 seconds by choosing from four options. Gamers can stop at any point to go to the theworld.org or travbuddy.com for additional information. Their scores are ranked with other gamers', and they can forward Geo Quiz Challenge to friends as well as embed code on their personal Web sites to display a badge with their scores. Links to other Web sites increase the opportunities for fun and social networking.

About Public Radio International®
Founded in 1983, Public Radio International leads media by producing, acquiring and distributing innovative content that enables U.S. audiences to "hear a different voice™," bringing new voices, global journalism and cultural perspectives to the American public. Through partnerships with BBC World Service and station-based and independent producers, the Minneapolis-based media leader provides more than 400 hours of content each week, broadcast to 31.4 million listeners* through 800 public radio stations and available through podcasts, streaming and on-demand through its Web site, pri.org. PRI's content is heard by more than 12 million* people each week through these collective sources.
*Source: Arbitron Nationwide/Act 1 Systems, Persons 12+ in DMA, Mon-Sun 24 hours, Fall '08.

PRI is known for driving innovation in public radio through partnerships with stations, independent producers and other organizations, and for working collaboratively to pool resources, share risk and cultivate new talent. Its newest production is "The Takeaway," a groundbreaking morning-drive news show produced with WNYC Radio. PRI's best known offerings include "This American Life," produced by Chicago Public Radio; PRI's "The World," a co-production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Radio Boston; "Living on Earth," produced by World Media Foundation Inc.; "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?," produced by Wisconsin Public Radio; "The Tavis Smiley Show," produced by Smiley Radio Properties Inc.; and "Studio 360 from PRI and WNYC®," produced by PRI and WNYC; as well as 24-hour program services — "Classical 24," produced by American Public Media, and BBC World Service, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. For more information on PRI and its programs and services, visit pri.org.

About TravBuddy
TravBuddy is an independent online travel community with over 1.5 million members that helps people find travel buddies, share personalized travel recommendations, and record travel experiences. TravBuddy members have shared over 110,000 travel blogs, 32,000 travel and hotel reviews, and 1.8 million travel photos. Over 6,000 travelers have met in real life and traveled together after meeting on the Web site. TravBuddy was started by two brothers, Eric and David Bjorndahl, in 2005. For more information, please visit www.travbuddy.com.

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CONTACT: Julia Yager, PRI, 612.330.9231, jyager@pri.org