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WASHINGTON, April 24 /PRNewswire/ — MWW Group (), one of the nation’s top 10 public relations firms, today announced the addition of Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard to its client roster. Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard organizes a yearly four-day executive development program for prominent Spanish entrepreneurs, which is designed to help Spain’s top business leaders capitalize on the wealth of business opportunities that exist today between the U.S. and Spain.”We’re proud to be working with Real Colegio Complutense, the only official agreement Harvard University has with any foreign academic institution,” said Michael W. Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group. “Our International Business Development Practice will help coordinate this event, which will provide Spanish executives with an overview of the U.S. economy and a report on the status of American business.”The event will consist of a VIP dinner as well as a seminar, in which there will be speeches and roundtable discussions on industry trends, best practices and possible joint venture opportunities in both countries. Various topics will include agribusiness, renewable energy, biotechnology, and real estate development and investment.About Real Colegio Complutense at HarvardThe Real Colegio Complutense (RCC) is an institution, created in 1990 through an agreement between Harvard University and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), to promote academic, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two institutions. Through its fellowships and activities, the Real Colegio Complutense, affiliated with Harvard University, serves as a privileged link between Harvard and the Spanish Universities.The Real Colegio Complutense is a non-profit organization, registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The President of Harvard University and the Rector of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid are the official managers, with the assistance of an Academic Council. The Council includes five representatives from Harvard University and five from UCM. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid provides the funds; in addition, foundations and private companies underwrite some of the expenses of seminars that are held at the RCC.RCC is the only case of an official agreement of a foreign academic institution with Harvard University. Its creation was due, in large part, to the King of Spain, who inaugurated the building in 1993.Derek Bok , who was President of Harvard in 1990 when Real Colegio Complutense was born, was very interested in establishing international education relationships with other Universities.About MWW GroupMWW Group is one of the nation’s top ten public relations agencies and is known for its results-driven approach to public relations and “Aim High … and Deliver” commitment to client service. For the past four years, MWW Group has been honored with the #1 ranking in the Holmes Report agency client satisfaction survey. MWW Group achieved top rankings in the categories of account leadership, strength of account team, creativity, strategy and planning, and program execution. In 2006, MWW Group was named PR Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and Mid-size PR Firm of the Year by PR News in recognition of the firm’s growth, strategic account leadership and industry-leading employee retention. MWW Group is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies . MWW Group

NEW YORK, April 23 /PRNewswire/ — The Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB) today announced the addition of three new members, including Arena Media Network, CBS Outernet and Zoom Media. These companies join a growing roster of out-of-home video advertising networks dedicated to promoting the adoption and use of their networks by the advertising community. The new member companies include: — Arena Media Networks; the leading digital media network for advertising in sports and entertainment venues. — CBS Outernet; a leading provider of in-store digital video networks in highly targeted consumer environments, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail locations., currently installed in approximately 1,500 stores nationwide. — Zoom Media; indoor network provider to over 5,000 venues, including fitness centers, indoor soccer facilities, bowling centers, family entertainment centers, restaurants and nightclubs.”Joining OVAB was the logical next step for CBS Outernet and further validates our commitment to the digital out-of-home space,” said Virginia Cargill, President of CBS Outernet. “As the media industry shifts more attention to digital platforms, we continue to realize the importance of reaching consumers where it makes sense and where they can be most engaged with relevant messages. By strategically aligning our business with the group, we can work to reach a common goal of standardized practices for the media community at large.”OVAB’s expanding membership, which consists of more than 26 member companies, has grown nearly 400 percent since inception in 2007. In addition, the group’s Agency Advisory Board continues to rapidly expand with key executives from agencies like MediaVest, Initiative, DMG, Starcom and Horizon Media. Currently, 22 agencies participate within the OVAB Agency Advisory Board. As the bureau continues to foster relationships with the advertising community, the Agency Advisory Board and general membership work together to identify objectives and educate the advertising community about the power and availability of out-of-home video networks. The first mission of the OVAB and the AAB was to develop and define comparable, logical audience metric guidelines for this media so that they could more easily integrate them into their clients’ strategic plans.”Electronic out-of-home advertising is not some futuristic fantasy. It’s here. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck it’s probably a duck,” said David Verklin, CEO, Aegis and a member of the OVAB Agency Advisory Board. “Electronic out-of-home advertising looks like TV and acts like TV and therefore advertisers are coming to the realization that place based narrowcast networks are an effective surrogate to traditional television. OVAB is simply expediting the adoption curve.”"As media fragmentation continues to splinter audiences, advertisers need more accountability out of their media buys,” said Suzanne Alecia, president of OVAB. “Since OVAB’s inception, the group has been dedicated to making it easier for advertisers to plan, buy and evaluate the effectiveness of digital out of home networks through the creation of best practices and guidelines. OVAB is working with the agency and advertising community on developing logical, comparable Audience Metrics Guidelines that will be announced later this year.”Recently, OVAB presented phase one of the Audience Metrics Guidelines to the AAAA’s Media Research Committee. Later this year, the group will formally announce those guidelines in addition to an online media planning tool they are developing. The tool is designed to give agencies all the information they need to help them more effectively include this category in their strategic communications plans, and will provide demographics, market information, creative specifications and more. For more information on OVAB, including events, news and more, log onto .ABOUT OVABFounded in 2007, the Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB) represents leading out-of-home video networks and the advertising community that is actively engaged in planning, buying and evaluating the effectiveness of the medium. On behalf of its members, OVAB seeks to foster ongoing collaboration between agencies and out-of-home video advertising networks; provide standards, best practices and industry-wide research; and promote the effectiveness of out-of-home video advertising. For more information, please visit . OVAB

PHILADELPHIA, April 23 /PRNewswire/ — Philadelphia-based independent advertising agency Red Tettemer has appointed veteran British creative Michael Barker as executive creative director, capping a global talent search for a mind to match the vision of agency founder and chief creative officer, Steve Red.(Photo: )”With the addition of Michael we continue to build a platform for diverse thinking and fresh perspective,” said Red. “He’s been part of some of the best agencies in the world and worked on brands we all know and covet but just as important for us was his natural fit into the Red Tettemer culture. He also calls us all mates and says “brilliant” a lot which is cool too.”Barker is the third senior-level hire announced by Red Tettemer in the last month. The 43-year-old has spearheaded campaigns on both sides of the Atlantic, most recently at 4Creative in London and, prior to that, as senior art director at Wieden Kennedy Amsterdam. While there he created global initiatives for clients such as Coca-Cola, Old Spice and Electronic Arts (EA).From 2001 to 2005, Barker served as a creative group head at TBWA\London, where he directed his own viral campaign for Sony Playstation while simultaneously churning out ads for News International, publisher of “The Sun” and other infamous British tabloids.”I truly believe this agency is poised for greatness,” said Barker. “There is a huge opportunity to stake a claim — not only in the Philly market but on a national level — and I’m eager to work alongside Steve and the Red Tettemer team to help make that happen.”Barker adds that he will be charged with overseeing the agency’s creative department, where he plans to impose a strict diet of “black pudding, mushy peas and scones.”He is no stranger to the world of US advertising. Before returning to Europe in 2001, he served as senior art director at Deutsch New York, working on campaigns for big name clients such as IKEA and Tanqueray.Barker’s first major break came during his time at Ogilvy London, where, as art director and then creative group head, he created award-winning work for Duracell, Ford and Guinness. Barker holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from the University of Central England in Birmingham.The Liverpool-native now makes his home in Philadelphia’s Center City, an “edgy, real” place that reminds him of home. He is an avid football fan (the British variety, that is). Barker often rises early on the weekends to cheer on his favorite football club, Liverpool, from a local pub.ABOUT RED TETTEMERRed Tettemer is a Philadelphia-based advertising agency. Within its red walls, thought-benders, storytellers and content creators build brands on any media platform that will have them. For more than 12 years, Red Tettemer has thrived on energizing clients and their businesses - a few currently being energized include Advanta; kajeet, a wireless mobile service for kids; PBS Kids Sprout; Pennsylvania Tourism Office; Five Below; and Hatfield Quality Meats. For more information, go to redtettemer.com. Red Tettemer

MIAMI, April 14 /PRNewswire/ — AR Growth Finance Corp. (Pink Sheets: ARGW), a diversified financial services company headquartered here with pension funds, annuities and credit-card operations in Argentina, has appointed Allen & Caron Inc to handle its investor relations and corporate communications.AR Growth Finance invests in financial services companies. Its first Argentine transactions were consummated in February 2008, and included several Argentine shareholders. The Company has a 95ACIORFIPROCENTE interest in Probenefit SA, an Argentine pension, insurance and consumer credit-card company that reported revenue of US$19.2 million with net income of US$3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Company intends to focus on the profitable and stable growth prospects of the Probenefit pension and insurance businesses, and to promote rapid growth in the credit-card business.CEO Kevin Fitzgerald said, “Although our operations are primarily in Argentina now, our focus will be on broader opportunities, in areas that are experiencing rapid economic growth, which, in turn, drives a growing demand for financial services. We wanted to find an investor relations agency with experience in cross-border companies, and with the ability to introduce us to the institutional investors appropriate to our industry segment. Allen & Caron has an excellent track record with international companies, and has demonstrated an ability to help to find the right fund managers and the right analysts. We look forward to working with them.”Allen & Caron CEO Joe Allen said, “We believe that AR Growth Finance has an intriguing opportunity in Argentina, with vibrant operations in pension funds and insurance, and a fast-growing, though still small, consumer credit-card operation. Their timing seems to be excellent, and their management team, both in the US and in Buenos Aires, is top-notch. We will be introducing AR Growth Finance to fund managers across North America, and will be setting up the Company’s first non-deal road trip shortly. We believe that AR Growth Finance will find enthusiastic support among savvy hedge fund managers and other institutional investors.”About Allen & CaronAllen & Caron is a full-service corporate, investor and marketing communications agency serving the needs of public companies. The Allen & Caron international client base includes emerging-growth companies in a range of industry segments. The firm has offices in Irvine, California; New York City; and London; maintains a presence in Paris; and has an affiliate relationship with a leading investor relations firm in Italy, with offices in Milan and Rome.About AR Growth Finance Corp.AR Growth Finance Corp. (Pink Sheets: ARGW) is a Delaware corporation established in 2007 to invest in finance-related companies in Argentina and ultimately throughout South America. Its principal shareholders are US and Argentine financial institutions, and its acquisition of 95ACIORFIPROCENTE of Probenefit was announced on February 27, 2008. Contact: Allen & Caron AR Growth Finance Corp. Rudy Barrio (investors) Kevin Fitzgerald, Brian Kennedy (media) Chief Executive Officer 212-691-8087 305-446-4800Allen & Caron

NEW YORK, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation today announced that Yahoo! has extended its agreement with Enliven to provide search results through the company’s graphically enhanced search applications for an additional two years, from March 17, 2008 to March 17, 2010.”We are pleased to continue to work with Yahoo! as a strategic partner for our consumer business,” said Patrick Vogt, CEO of Enliven Marketing Technologies. “Our relationship with Yahoo! began in 2004, and we are very happy that Yahoo! will continue to be our search provider going forward.”ABOUT ENLIVEN MARKETING TECHNOLOGIESEnliven Marketing Technologies Corporation (formerly Viewpoint Corporation) is a leading Internet Marketing Technology Company, offering Internet marketing and online advertising solutions through a powerful combination of proprietary visualization technology, and a Premium Rich Media advertising platform for the creation, delivery and reporting of PRM. Enliven’s family of brands include Unicast, the Internet Marketing and Advertising Technology Group, and Springbox, the Creative Digital Marketing Solutions Group. The company’s technology and online advertising solutions are leveraged by some of the world’s most esteemed brands, including AOL, GE, Sony, and Toyota. More information can be found at .The company has approximately 140 employees with offices in New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Austin, TX and London, England.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release contains “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar expressions that reflect Enliven’s current expectations about its future performance. These statements and expressions are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Enliven’s actual performance to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements and expressions. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include those described in Enliven’s filings and reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Copyright (C) 2008 Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Enliven, Viewpoint, Unicast, and Springbox are trademarks or registered trademarks of Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation. Contact Press: Ann Charles Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation 212-201-0821 Or Jay Kolbe Weber Shandwick 212-445-8215Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation

SHANGHAI, China, April 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — Focus Media Holding Limited , China’s largest digital media group, today revised its previously announced guidance for its mobile advertising business for 2008.Due to recent uncertainty in the mobile handset advertising business in China, we expect the full year revenue for our wireless business will be significantly lower than our previously announced guidance of $54.0 million to $55.8 million. As we announced in our press release on March 18, 2008, Focus Media has established an internal policy prohibiting its subsidiaries sending SMS messages without receiving mobile user’s explicit permission. As a result of recent business developments, we expect full year revenue from the mobile handset business in 2008 to be between $14.0 million to $15.8 million, or $40 million less than the previously announced range. Therefore, the full year 2008 revenue guidance is revised to a range of from $860 million to $890 million from previously announced $900 million to $930 million, and full year 2008 net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions (non-GAAP) to be between US$260 million and US$280 million, as compared to the original guidance of between US$280 million and US$300 million. We also expect the resulting non- cash impairment charge of goodwill and acquired intangible assets of mobile advertising business to range from $75 million to $95 million in Q1 2008 due to a restructuring of our mobile handset advertising business and termination of earn-outs based acquisition agreements with certain mobile handset advertising subsidiaries.Jason Jiang, Executive Chairman commented, “We believe the mobile phone is changing from a communication device to an important media device covering more than 500 million valuable consumers in China. We have already seen strong growth in our WAP advertising and interactive marketing businesses based on mobile devices. Going forward, we will focus on building a pull- based advertising model for our mobile business and will only send advertising information to consumers in China based on their explicit consent. Meanwhile, all our other businesses, including digital out-of-home and Internet advertising, are performing strongly. In 2008, given that we are strategically well positioned in all our media assets, we will focus on generating free cash flow from our existing media platforms and do not expect making any significant acquisitions. We continue to expect a very exciting year for Focus Media in 2008.”About Focus Media Holding LimitedFocus Media Holding Limited is China’s leading multi- platform digital media company, operating the largest out-of-home advertising network in China using audiovisual digital displays, based on the number of locations and number of flat-panel television displays in our network, and is also a leading provider of mobile handset advertising and Internet marketing solutions in China. Through Focus Media’s multi-platform digital advertising network, the company reaches urban consumers at strategic locations and point- of-interests over a number of media formats, including audiovisual television displays in buildings and stores, advertising poster frames and other new and innovative media, such as outdoor light-emitting diode or LED digital billboard, mobile handset advertising networks and Internet advertising platforms. As of December 31, 2007, Focus Media’s digital out-of-home advertising network had approximately 112,298 LCD display in its commercial location network, approximately 49,452 LCD displays in its in-store network and over 190,000 advertising in-elevator poster / digital frames, installed in over 90 cities throughout China, and approximately 200 outdoor LED billboard displays in Shanghai. For more information about Focus Media, please visit our website at .USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURESIn addition to Focus Media’s results under GAAP, the Company also provides non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per fully diluted ADS, all excluding non-cash share-based compensation and acquired intangible asset amortization expense resulting from acquisitions. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with another method for assessing Focus Media’s operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing operations. Readers are cautioned not to view non-GAAP results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under GAAP, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the performance of Focus Media and when planning and forecasting future periods. The Company computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter.Safe Harbor: Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,”"expects,”"anticipates,”"future,”"intends,”"plans,”"believes,”"estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook section and quotations from management in this press release, as well as Focus Media’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Focus Media may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 20-F and 6-K., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Focus Media’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks outlined in Focus Media’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statements on Form F-1, F-3, F-6 and 20-F. Focus Media does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Investor and Media Contact: Jie Chen Focus Media Holding Ltd Tel: 86-21-3212-4661 ext 6607 Email: Focus Media Holding Limited

NEW YORK, April 9 /PRNewswire/ — Bayard Advertising Agency, Inc., one of the nation’s leading recruitment brand development and recruitment marketing and advertising firms, is pleased to announce the unveiling of their SmartTrack Tracking System.SmartTrack offers companies the ability to gain more insight into their recruitment campaigns in order to maximize effectiveness. With this technology, companies will be able to see immediate results on which advertisements and placements are getting the best response.Bill Davidson, Senior Vice President at Bayard, is confident that the new system will benefit all involved. “Never before have our clients been able to access such immediate, comprehensive data as they now have the ability to,” said Davidson. “We will now be able to ensure that the potential of all of our campaigns are being maximized.”The system is as user-friendly for clients as it is effective. Bayard provides companies with specialized toll-free or local phone numbers to insert in their advertisements. The resulting statistics — the number of calls and the ads from which they came — are updated in real-time. Companies will then be able to log on to their online portal to see all of the results.”We’re proud of this day,” Davidson said. “It will make Bayard Advertising a better company moving forward, a company better able of accommodating our clients in every way possible.”As one of the nation’s leaders specializing in recruitment brand development and recruitment marketing and advertising, Bayard has helped thousands of clients over a broad spectrum of industries and practice areas recruit and retain employees.About Bayard AdvertisingBayard Advertising is a full service agency that specializes in recruitment communications for clients over a broad spectrum of industries and practice areas. For more information about Bayard Advertising, please visit . Bill Davidson, Senior Vice President, Logistics Group can be reached at: 501 Cambria Avenue, Suite 115, Bensalem, PA 19020 Phone: (215) 604-6110 or (212) 228-9400 Email: Louis Naviasky, Executive Vice President Bayard Advertising Agency, Inc. Email: T 212 228 9400 F 212 228 8326Bayard Advertising Agency, Inc.

BRIMINGHAM, England, April 4 /PRNewswire/ — A new player in the on-line advertising business will avoid criticism of BT approach.With digital rights legal specialists claiming that trials of an on-line advertising system carried out by BT are illegal, a new venture will shortly launch which is designed to protect the privacy of net surfers by targeting advertisements only at web users who have signed up to receive them.Mi Info.eu invites anyone who uses the internet to join up by completing a questionnaire to profile their lifestyle and interests with a view to receiving advertisements from businesses selling products or services that match their needs. The incentive for subscribers is that they earn points, which can be exchanged for shopping vouchers every time they view a new ad which will appear on their personal Mi Info page, not their email inbox. Pre-launch, members can start earning their points by signing up and recommending the site to friends.Roger Murphy, a partner in Mi Info says: “We fully understand the concern that is currently being expressed over attempts to create new advertising platforms by covertly tracking users’ web browsing habits. We have launched Mi Info on the key principle that no one likes receiving spam or unsolicited advertising every time they log on to the internet. Our members will only receive advertisements relevant to their circumstances, lifestyle and interests, based on profiling data they have completed themselves. The essential difference is that the audience we are creating for advertisers have actively given their consent to receive the ads.”On the question of data security, Roger Murphy says: “This is our highest priority. Mi-info will never sell or provide subscribers’ personal contact details to advertisers, and we are guaranteeing that nothing we do will lead to our members receiving unwanted material. The systems we are putting in place will conform to the highest international data security standards.”Members of the public are currently being invited to sign up on in advance of advertisements going live, which will take place shortly. Linda Trotman T/F: 44(0)1564-742731 Email: www.mi-info.eu

LONDON, March 31 /PRNewswire/ — Off Plan Property Exchange, an online property advertising agency, based in the United Kingdom, announced it’s intention to sponsor the Scottish Formula One Grand Prix in November 2015. The event will be run in association with the International Society for the Prevention of Petrol (ISPP) based in Geneva. Jeremy Dannebohm, Director of Public Relations and Marketingfor Off Plan Property Exchange commented that the company will host an eventthat will become a regular fixture in the grand prix calendar for years tocome.”We are confident this will be an event of tremendousmagnitude. I have a hunch the Off Plan Property Exchange Scottish Grand Prixwill be a veritable who’s who of celebrities, athletes, and nobility. It willbe a memorable day for all those who attend.” The last Scottish Grand Prix of such magnitude was held 57years ago on July 21st, 1951. The event of 1951 was a 100 mile race held atWinfield Airfield also in Berwickshire. The 2015 event will include industryleading hydrogen powered racing machines from each of the major teams withstar drivers such as Alonso Alfonso, Jimi Rikatard, and of course our veryown Lewis Ambleton. Stuart Atkinson, Executive Director of Off Plan PropertyExchange anticipates the Grand Prix will bring about international awarenessto the success of the online property investment company. Mr. Atkinson whoconducted most of the negotiations himself with Bernie Eccelsham, the leaderof the FHM based in Paris, commented:”It’s been tough. We’ve had round after round of Negotiationswith Bernard, and I’m delighted that it has all come together We want to dothis right, with no expense spared. There will of course be a major launchevent with top celebrities and a nice buffet with wine, cheese andeverything.” Prior to releasing tickets to the general public, the companyis offering visitors to their website the opportunity to register to win a”Grand Prix Getaway Package” which includes accommodations at the Travelodge,just an hour and a half away from where the race will be held. The packageincludes 6 VIP tickets to the Grand Prix and exclusive OPPE post race partybut doesn’t include dining, spirits or the airfare . Registration beginsApril 1st, 2008. To register, visit Off Plan Property Exchange’s website, whichincludes a section detailing more information about the sponsorship athttp://www.offplanpropertyexchange.com/grandprix For More Information Contact: Jeremy “Basil” Dannebohm Public Relations & Marketing Manager Off Plan Property Exchange jeremy@offplanpropertyexchange.com ph. 44(0)20-8133-0565 (UK) or ph. 1-303-952-0330 (US)Off Plan Property Exchange

NEW YORK, March 27 /PRNewswire/ — The continuing shift from print to online media is requiring journalists to reassess their day-to-day responsibilities and the manner in which they report the news. This, and other findings uncovered in the “2008 PRWeek/PR Newswire Media Survey,” indicate that media professionals are being tasked with more responsibility, are facing changing job requirements, and are more aware of the commercial side of the business than ever before.(Photo: )The survey, sponsored by PR Newswire and PRWeek, polled a total of 1,231 traditional and non-traditional media, including newspaper and magazine journalists, television, radio and online reporters, and bloggers. Its objective was to assess the attitudes and ideas of traditional journalists and bloggers, specifically regarding their duties, workload, interaction with PR professionals, and opinions of the future of media industry. A full review of the survey results will appear in PRWeek on Monday, March 31. To access this coverage, please click here: .”With the media industry in a state of flux, reporters recognize that it is more and more difficult to confine oneself to standard roles and responsibilities. The proliferation of online news sites and blogs has put incredible pressure on traditional media outlets, forcing many to reallocate or cut staff in order to compete,” stated Dave Armon, chief operating officer, PR Newswire. “The results of this survey bear witness to how these changes are impacting the way in which reporters work, how they perceive their industry, what they value as important, and the efforts that they are taking to adapt to the ever-evolving media landscape.” Key Findings: — Hours and Responsibilities The role of the media professional is changing as reporters are asked to assume more responsibilities and contribute to an increasing array of outlets. Fifty-seven percent of respondents feel they are being asked to work more today that in the past few years, while 56% say they are contributing to other mediums outside of their official duty. Related to their work responsibilities, 42% of magazine journalists are expected to contribute to the website or online version of their publication and 39% of newspaper reporters are expected to do the same. Twenty-two percent of media respondents are blogging for their traditional publication. — Future of Print Outlets Consistent with this shift in reporting focus, reporters at traditional print newspapers and magazines recognize the growing influence of the Web as the medium by which people access news. Recent shake-ups and staff reductions at large print outlets have cast a cloud over the industry, with 67% of newspaper journalists anticipating “declines in print circulation and increased focus on the web” over the next three years. In line with this sentiment, 38% of newspaper reporters expect to see “reductions in staff” over the next three years. Print magazine reporters are decidedly more optimistic, with only 9.4% expressing concern about reductions in staff. Despite the uncertainty in the industry, few reporters believed that their publications in their current state would disappear. Fully 63% of the total print journalists believe that their publication will endure “indefinitely” in its current state. — Measuring Success When asked to identify the most important aspect of their work, 91% of respondents indicated “Make my publication successful by creating appealing content for its audiences” as the top consideration of their job, ahead of “Educate and inform the masses,”"Break news,” and “Chronicle events as they happen.” This finding suggests a significant level of commercial awareness on the part of journalists. — Perception of the Press Reporters continue to operate on the defensive, with 70% of total respondents suggesting that public opinion of journalists has gotten worse during the past five years, and 52% of the total believing that the general public has a “somewhat negative” opinion of journalists. — Impact of Blogs on Reporting Blogs have become an important tool for researching a story. Nearly 73% of respondents sometimes or always use blogs in their research, while a scant 19% report never using a blog for research purposes. The most often cited reason for using blogs in research was “to measure sentiment.” — Relationship to PR Professionals The majority of journalists responding prefer PR professionals to contact them by email with nearly 90% listing this as their favored method. Encouragingly, less than 7% said they would prefer not to be contacted by PR pros at all. Eighty-six percent of bloggers report that they currently receive pitches from PR people, with 24% reporting that these pitches never result in a story and 49% saying the pitches they receive are related to what they cover only between 0-25% of the time.”New forms of media have made a significant impact on the media profession, as journalists work longer hours and fill more multi-faceted roles,” said Julia Hood, publishing director, PRWeek. “For PR professionals, the growing number of outlets — both traditional and online — offer more opportunity to tell your organization’s story if you take the time to understand and empathize with the reporter’s or blogger’s needs. While reporters continue to receive a large number of pitches that are not relevant to their coverage area — more than half of respondents said that less than 20 percent of the pitches are relevant — reporters recognize that the competition for content makes seasoned PR professionals a valuable asset.”Armon continued, “With reporters focusing more on the overall success of the outlets they work for, it is incumbent upon PR pros to take the time to learn about the goals of the publication by talking to reporters, editors and even publishers, reviewing editorial calendars, and reading more than just the particular column or section they are interested in pitching.”It was very encouraging to see that PR people are considering blogs as a medium when conducting outreach, however, the results indicate that more needs to be done to research the correct blogs. Blog relations are similar to media relations in that you must take the time to build relationships, read the blog, know the blog’s audience, and engage with the blogger even when it will not directly impact you or your client. Additionally, with nearly three- quarters of media respondents indicating that they regularly use blogs in their research to measure sentiment, it has never been more important for PR professionals to do the same. You must know what’s being said about your industry, your organization, and your competitors in this increasingly relevant medium so that you are never blind-sighted when pitching or talking to a reporter who has taken the time to do the same.”About PR NewswirePR Newswire Association LLC () provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of corporate, government, association, labor, non- profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up- to-the-minute, full-text news developments.Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in 14 countries and routinely sends its customers’ news to outlets in more than 170 countries and in more than 40 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters, investors and individuals who seek breaking news from the source. PR Newswire’s leading services include ProfNet(SM), eWatch(TM), MEDIAtlas(TM), Search Engine Optimization, MediaRoom, MediaSense(TM), MultiVu(TM), U.S. Newswire, the preeminent policy newswire in the industry, Vintage Filings, the fastest growing Edgar filing company, and Hispanic PR Wire, LatinClips and Hispanic Digital Network, the foremost Hispanic communications services. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London.About PR WeekLaunched in November 1998, PRWeek was Haymarket’s first weekly title in the US. Over the years, PRWeek has established itself as a vital part of the PR and communications industries in the US, providing timely news, reviews, profiles, techniques, and ground-breaking research for practitioners. The brand launched the PRWeek Awards in 1999 to showcase and recognize the best practices in the PR industry. PRWeek’s online properties () include a constantly updated Web site, podcasts, a number of blogs, and a host of webcasts. PR Newswire; PRWeek