AICPA in the news: March 1-April 30.

Following are some recent highlights of the AICPA's media outreach efforts to showcase CPAs' outstanding work and the profession's perspectives on important issues.

Financial Literacy

* A satellite media tour was held on Apr. 30 to teach consumers about managing their finances during a recession. Featuring Bob Jazwinski, chair of the PFS Credential Committee, and two members of the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, Beth Gamel and Jordan Amin, it resulted in television and radio interviews airing a total of 30 times, reaching 18.7 million viewers and listeners.

* The AICPA teamed up with the American Savings Education Council to offer taxpayers some tips on financially savvy ways to use their tax refunds. These tips, presented in the form of a conversation between Benjamin Bankes of the AICPA's Feed the Pig program and Savingsman[TM], icon of ASEC's Choose to Save program, recommend paying down debt and starting a long-term cash reserve. This release received coverage in a total of 76 media outlets thus far, reaching a Web audience of over 16 million.

* Results from the Institute's 2008 national financial literacy survey, conducted with Harris Interactive, were...