Laurie Katz, Director of Publicity
Email: LKatz@Infobase.com





Infobase Announces Relaunch of Issues & Controversies



New and Improved Database Now Features Debate Videos, Other Enhancements

New York, NY, January 28, 2015—Infobase, a leading provider of award-winning educational content to schools and libraries, has announced the relaunch of Issues & Controversies. The database, which has long been known for its exclusive coverage and balanced treatment of complex, hot-button issues, is a recent recipient of The ComputED Gazette's 19th Annual Education Software Review Awards.

Issues & Controversies' dynamic new design is structured around today's most controversial issues, from immigration, gun control, racial profiling, and Cuba policy to climate change, police brutality, terrorism, Middle East policy, and more. Recent controversies in the news are highlighted on the home page, along with a hyperlinked list of all topics, organized by subject or A-to-Z, for quick access into the core of the database. The issue pages themselves have also been expanded and improved, with a new, user-friendly organization that reveals at a glance all the controversies related to each issue, with clear pro/con statements for each, plus new features such as videos, interactive polls, and news articles that engage and enlighten users as they explore each issue.

Another exciting, new addition to the database is the collection of more than 90 debate videos from the renowned Intelligence Squared U.S. Debate Series, featuring some of the most prominent political figures, journalists, academics, and experts in the United States and throughout the world on a wide range of crucial subjects. Linked directly to Issues & Controversies articles and topics, these provocative Oxford-style debates offer fresh perspectives from leading authorities on both sides of the issue and can be used to spark discussion, encourage critical thinking, and enhance debate prep. Each debate can be viewed in its entirety, by predefined segments, or with the help of the complete, searchable transcript.

To extend the lesson beyond the articles, a core set of essential hot-button issues have been enhanced with new educational features such as overview videos and exclusive Educator Resources, including learning objectives, resources, printable handouts, discussion questions, and more. These Enhanced Lessons and Educator Resources, directly accessible from the bottom of any page in the database, are powerful tools for bringing the content into the classroom.

Improved functionality and reference tools significantly enrich the user experience for students and researchers, with better search options and filters, new page tools such as Read Aloud and Google Translate, dynamic citations in multiple styles, and correlations to all major educational standards, with the ability to search by desired standards to find specific content. A new Support Center offers valuable help tools such as live help chat.

About Infobase:
Infobase is an educational solutions company providing award-winning digital reference content to the school and library community. Under such well-known brands as Facts On File, The World Almanac®, and Films Media Group, Infobase provides students, educators, and librarians with a broad range of products that both enhance and enrich the learning experience. For more than 70 years, Infobase has been a reliable, authoritative resource for supporting the middle school, high school, and academic curriculum, providing flexible options for accessing educational content whether in school, at the library, or at home.