The Four key areas of focus for the Markle Foundation include the following: 1. Public Engagement through Interactive Technologies, encouraging the use of communications technology to help people actively pursue knowledge and participate in democratic society., 2. Policy for a Networked Society, working to enhance the public voice in domestic and international policies surfacing in the communications environment., 3. Interactive Media for Children, aiming to enhance the potential for children's benefit from using interactive technologies., and 4. Information Technologies for Better Health, working to make use of information technology to improve patients and consumers health and health care.

Children's Interactive Media, Health Care Information Technologies, Policy Development, and Interactive Public Engagement

The Markle Foundation (http://www.markle.org) was established in 1927 by John and Mary R. Markle. After concentrating on traditional social welfare and academic medicine, the Foundation changed its focus to mass communications in 1969. In recent years, Markle has supported major policy conferences, on-line policy simulations and debates, and research on subjects as varied as political advertising, effective interactive learning and international media law.