04/10/2006

Pro-Life TV Media Sets Record

ROSWELL, Georgia, April 10 -- VirtueMedia, Inc., a 501C(3) non-profit, pro-life media group launched a massive crisis pregnancy television ad campaign in eight major U.S. cities. During the Fall of 2005 and Jan 2006 VirtueMedia commercials were aired portraying young women, from all backgrounds openly discussing the fear and confusion that resulted from and unplanned pregnancy. Abortion vulnerable women who saw these ads in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charleston, Indianapolis, Washington, DC, Phoenix and Los Angeles were directed to the Option Line, a toll-free crisis helpline managed by Care Net and Heartbeat International. The Option Line that directs callers to local crisis pregnancy center affiliates.

In Atlanta, $20,000 was invested in VirtueMedia’s January 2006 crisis pregnancy ad campaign. In one month 2,646 phone calls were generated, from abortion vulnerable women needing help. These results have set an all time record for the most productive crisis pregnancy TV campaign, according to the national pregnancy help line that fields the initial calls, and partnered on the Atlanta area campaign.

The results amount to a cost of only $7.55 for each pregnant mother helped, as compared to a history of $100-$500 per call from other outreach sources. Atlanta Care Center, A Care Net affiliate, assisted some of the nearly 3,000 women responding to the campaign. According to Jason Phillips, M.A., the center director: “The majority of clients who visited our office found us by calling the number on the TV commercial. Most of these women were abortion- vulnerable prior to the visit. One client told counselors: “. . . (the ultrasound) it changed my life. To see the baby’s feet, scratching his head, with his little legs crossed. I knew I was only being selfish and scared. I couldn’t get an abortion. It was unthinkable no matter how much struggling was ahead.”

VirtueMedia was founded seven years ago by media veteran, Tom Peterson. The national media ministry is dedicated to producing and airing powerful and life- saving pro-life television and radio commercials and educational films. Endorsed by both the Vatican and Focus on the Family, VirtueMedia uses the immense reach and impact of media to give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves- the unborn, aged, and most vulnerable. Their portfolio contains a number of ads aimed at sanctity of life education, crisis pregnancy outreach, post abortion-healing, as well as legislative issues such as stem cell research and informed consent.

In response to the high percentage of minority abortions, VirtueMedia has created special ads that speak to Hispanic and African American communities. Dr. Alveda King, niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has partnered with Virtue Media in making two commercials concerning life issues.

From network television affiliates such as WB, UPN, and FOX to cable television channels including MTV and BET, VirtueMedia commercials have aired in over 1,500 U.S. cities and internationally and have helped save countless unborn babies. VirtueMedia’s Silent No More, post abortion healing campaign garnered 5,043 additional inquiries when it aired in Detroit this past fall. After VirtueMedia aired abstinence ads on MTV and BET, the abstinence website recorded 24,000 inquiries in a matter of days.

For more information, contact Tom Peterson at tom@virtuemedia.org, by calling 770-559-5533 or by mail to VirtueMedia, 560 W. Crossville Road, Suite 101, Roswell, GA 30075. Photos and ad screens available upon request.