FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2000 Decennial Media Relations CB00-CN.05 301-457-3691/301-457-3620 (fax) 301-457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: 2000usa@census.gov Anchorage Local Census Office 907-271-1300 **CENSUS BUREAU MEDIA ADVISORY** First Enumeration for Census 2000 Announced By Census Bureau Director at News Conference in Anchorage Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt will announce the official beginning of the Census 2000 enumeration in the remote areas of Alaska at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles is also scheduled to speak at the news conference at the Alaskan Native Heritage Center. Others scheduled to attend the news conference are: Rick Mystrom, mayor of Anchorage; Nelson Angapak, vice president of the Alaska Federation of Natives; Vernon Chimegalrea, vice president of the Alaska Native Heritage Center; and Moises Carrasco, director of the Census Bureau's regional census center in Seattle. Also scheduled to speak is John Hoover, the artist who produced the sculpture, Raven the Creator, located at the Heritage Center and shown on the Census 2000 promotional poster for Alaska. A webcast of the news conference will be available on the Census Bureau's Internet homepage http://www.census.gov. To view the webcast, you will need to first download RealPlayer 7 Basic at http://www.real.com/player/index.html?src=download. We strongly recommend that you download this software well in advance of viewing. Please contact your computer support staff if you have any difficulty with this procedure. The news conference will be held at: 9:00 a.m., Alaska Standard Time Alaska Native Heritage Center 8800 Heritage Center Drive 1:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time Anchorage, Alaska Editor's note: Unalakleet, the Alaskan native village that Prewitt will enumerate with 20 census workers on Jan. 20, experiences severe cold weather during January (40 to 50 degrees below zero) and has limited accommodations. Also, by law the Census Bureau may not violate the confidentiality of respondents and thus cannot allow reporters or photographers to accompany the director or other census workers during the enumeration. The Public Information Office will have B-roll available on Census 2000 operations in Alaska. To obtain a copy, call 301-457-3691. The Census Bureau has arranged with the Associated Press to provide coverage to its members. The Bureau strongly urges the electronic media to set up pool coverage as well. Networks should consider contacting their affiliates in Alaska to arrange local pool coverage. The Census Bureau has reserved three seats for radio pool members and three for TV pool members on the 12:45 p.m. Pen Air flight from Anchorage to Unalakleet on Jan. 19 and on the return flight. A second Pen Air flight to Unalakleet via St. Mary's has been scheduled. (See the attached factsheet.) Radio and TV pool members designated by their colleagues who wish to travel to Unalakleet should identify themselves to Census Bureau media specialist David Olivera at the news conference at the Heritage Center in Anchorage. Reporters should be aware that special arrangements for travel, clothing and accommodations are required and they should consider contacting a travel agency familiar with the conditions in remote Alaska. The attached fact sheet provides information pertinent to making travel arrangements. -X- The Census Bureau needs the help of local residents to conduct Census 2000. Job opportunities include census taker positions in communities and neighborhoods and office work. A large number of part-time positions are available. For more information on census jobs in your area, call toll-free 1-888-325-7733. The Census Bureau guarantees that the answers given on census forms are kept strictly confidential. Information collected in Census 2000 will provide local area data needed for communities to receive federal program funds and for private sector and community planning.
