Boston, MA, June 2004 - The JASON Foundation for Education has selected Polese Clancy Inc.,
the Boston-based integrated marketing and web development firm, to design and launch its
Return to Titanic web site, www.jason.org/returntotitanic.
JASON's Return to Titanic expedition has been exploring what remains of the famous ocean liner's
wreckage, which was first discovered by JASON founder and expedition leader Dr. Robert Ballard in 1985.
Based in Needham Heights, Massachusetts, JASON is a nonprofit educational organization
that inspires life-long learning in science and math through innovative, hands-on expeditions,
programs and curricula. Since 1989, JASON has been providing effective and affordable
learning solutions that help public school districts improve learning outcomes for the middle grades.
The Return to Titanic web site launched on May 27 to coincide with the expedition's departure
from Boston aboard the Ronald H. Brown research ship. During the expedition, the research team
is using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to gather underwater video and stills from R.M.S. Titanic.
These images, along with scientific experiments conducted at the site, will be used to study why and how
the ship has deteriorated since it collided with an iceberg and sank during its maiden trans-Atlantic
voyage in 1912. It is hoped that findings from the expedition may help researchers develop strategies
for preserving and protecting the Titanic as an undersea museum for future generations.
The new Return to Titanic web site — recently named "site of the week" by a nationwide newsletter
for teachers — allows students to follow the expedition's progress and participate as virtual
team members, receiving daily updates from the research crew and using math and science skills
to solve real-life expedition challenges. Highlights of the web site include a Ship's Log and
Photo Gallery where researchers can post daily diaries, captioned expedition photos and video clips
using AdvancedContent,™ Polese Clancy's easy-to-use content management tool.
The tool allows the researchers to specify exactly where they want images and text to appear and
to interchange photo and video files. The site's homepage features a video and invites visitors
to access sub-pages by clicking on portholes incorporated in the homepage design.
The site also features interactive math and science activities and a database-driven Q & A section.
Visitors can use a password-protected log-in area to view underwater video footage shot by expedition
filmmakers from the National Geographic Channel.
JASON selected Polese Clancy based on the agency's expertise in branding,
web development and design. "We are delighted with Polese Clancy's innovative
web design and easy-to-learn content management system which enables
JASON crewmembers onboard the research ship to post interactive and highly
engaging visual and editorial content on a daily basis," said Bet Alwin, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications.
In addition to providing technical expertise and web design, Polese Clancy also wrote some of the web
site's copy. Now that work on the Return to Titanic expedition site is complete,
Polese Clancy is helping JASON rethink its branding strategy, and will work to redesign
the organization’s primary web site and to design and edit collateral materials.
"Establishing a strong brand identity and a consistent look and feel for JASON's marketing
materials is a top priority," said Marcia Polese, the agency's co-founder. "Updating design
and content messaging will help the organization communicate more effectively with its
target audiences, including school districts as well as private and public funding
agencies," she said.
Polese Clancy has more than 20 years of experience serving the integrated marketing
needs of leading organizations in the New England area, including non-profits and B2B companies
in the financial service, telecommunications, high-tech / bio-tech, insurance and pharmaceutical
industries. The firm has helped over 100 start-up and Fortune 1000 companies achieve measurable
results through strategic brand development and cross-media communications.
Since its launch almost two weeks ago, the Return to Titanic expedition has been
featured on a host of TV news shows including 20/20, Good Morning America and World News Tonight,
as well as in numerous articles in publications including People and the New York Times.
The Return to Titanic web site is is getting over 30,000 hits daily, and has exceeded 60,000 hits on some days.
To view the site, go to www.jason.org/returntotitanic. For more information about the JASON Foundation for Education, contact Bet Alwin at 781-433-8831, email info@jason.org or visit the JASON web site at www.jason.org.
To learn more about Polese Clancy, contact Marcia Polese, 617-423-3800 ext. 231, or go
to www.poleseclancy.com.