Introducing Philly.com's newest 'Voices' and contributors

Philly.com, the most popular news and information web site in Philadelphia, announced today that it is expanding "The New Voices" initiative with more local and national contributors covering a wide range of topics important to readers.

New contributors include: Rabbi Mike Uram, recognized for his time spent exploring all of the denominations of Judaism and for his service to the Jewish community; Carli Lloyd, a 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist; Vince Papale, a legendary Philadelphia Eagles player, known by many as the team's "Most Outstanding Special Teams Player," and Katie Monroe, an Education and Safety Fellow at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

"We are thrilled to announce these new and exciting contributors to 'The New Voices' initiative," said Robert J. Hall, Chief Executive Officer and Publisher, Interstate General Media, parent company of Philly.com. "'The New Voices' platform is committed to providing our audience with a diverse number of leaders expressing their views on a variety of important topics."

"I am honored to join Philly.com as a contributor to 'The New Voices,'" said Rabbi Mike Uram. "I look forward to connecting with such an engaged online audience, and enlightening them on the many denominations of Judaism prevalent in our region."

"I was fortunate to have so many Philly.com readers follow my Olympic experience in London last year," said Olympic soccer gold medalist Carli Lloyd. "The opportunity to further share my story as a 'New Voice' on Philly.com is very gratifying, and provides a greater connection with some of my most avid supporters."

"I am proud to be a part of the stellar line-up of 'New Voices' being featured on the 'Invincible' Philly.com, said former Eagles player Vince Papale. "I am excited to share my story of struggle and triumph with Philly.com's readers, and encourage them to always strive to achieve the unthinkable – not only in sports, but in everything they do."

"In Philadelphia, we need bicycles and physical activity incorporated into our daily lives so that we can work towards a greener city," said Katie Monroe, Education and Safety Fellow at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. "I am excited to share my passion for bikes, bicyclists, and bike culture with Philly.com readers - whether they ride every day, or haven't been on a bike since they were a kid."

Philly.com also announced today two new strategic alliances with Pennsylvania Independent and Inside Climate News.

Pennsylvania Independent is a journalism project created in the public's interest that reports from Harrisburg on the activities of Pennsylvania's government agencies, bureaucracies, and public officials in order to promote an accountable and transparent state government. Inside Climate News, winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, is a news organization that provides key decision-makers and the public with the information they need to navigate climate and energy debates.

In addition to these notable columnists and strategic alliances, Philly.com is launching Backstage, a blog which provides a destination for members of the Philadelphia art scene to share their behind-the-scenes challenges and triumphs, and explain the art community's reason for being. "We created the Backstage blog to offer our readers a fresh and compelling perspective on the performing and visual arts," said Leah Kauffman, Executive Producer of Entertainment and Lifestyle, Philly.com. "Who better to tell that story on Philly.com than the artists who live it daily?"

"The New Voices" is a platform on Philly.com that features notable national and local leaders addressing a wide and diverse range of topics.

"Our goal, at Philly.com is to consistently reach across the full breadth of our region's ideas, its people and their lives," said Steve Alessi, Vice President, Digital Advertising and General Manager of Philly.com. "Relevance and reach can be overused terms, but 'The New Voices' reflects our desire to transform and deepen the traditional relationship between a media company and its community."