PR Newswire Celebrates 50 Years

PR Newswire Celebrates 50 Years As Industry Pioneer and Leader

NEW YORK, March 8 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Commemorates Occasion with $25,000 Contribution to the Committee to Protect Journalists

The modern age of public relations officially began on March 8, 1954, when PR Newswire transmitted the first electronic commercial news release to 12 media outlets in New York, changing the way the media gathers and retrieves information. Today, PR Newswire celebrates Herbert Muschel’s creation of the commercial newswire industry and its contribution to the evolution of public relations and investor relations.

To commemorate its long-standing relationship with the media community and in honor of its 50th anniversary, PR Newswire will make a $25,000 donation to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Founded in 1981 as an independent, nonprofit organization, CPJ promotes freedom of the press by defending the rights of journalists to report news without fear of reprisal. PR Newswire will be designated a Corporate Underwriter with this donation and joins other esteemed media organizations including CNN, Bloomberg, Dow Jones Foundation, the New York Times Foundation, and many more who have pledged money to assist CPJ in administering its programs. For more information on CPJ, please visit www.cpj.org.

“For the past 50 years PR Newswire has been an essential link in the communications chain by providing a conduit for businesses and organizations to transmit news around the world. From our beginning serving 12 New York media outlets to our current status as a global enterprise, PR Newswire has shaped the newswire industry by setting the standards for the way information is organized, distributed, received and archived,” said David B. Armon, chief operating officer of PR Newswire.

Armon continued, “PR Newswire has grown to serve hundreds of industries with numerous services and technologies. Yet despite our size and global reach, the success of PR Newswire is still beholden to one thing above all else - our close, collaborative relationship with the media that we serve. We understand that much of the value we bring to our members is incumbent upon the media viewing PR Newswire as a reliable and credible source of information. It has been PR Newswire’s privilege to serve the journalist community for 50 years, and it is our profound honor to make this donation to CPJ.”

“We are honored to be recognized by PR Newswire and extremely grateful for their generosity," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "This contribution is a testament to PR Newswire's commitment to press freedom and will allow CPJ to continue our advocacy on behalf of the thousands of journalists around the world who face violence, arrest, and harassment for reporting the news.”

A 50-Year History of Innovation, Value and Service Since disseminating its first press release on March 8, 1954, PR Newswire has been the first point of disclosure for numerous history-making events. Included among the most newsworthy announcements issued over PR Newswire are the Three Mile Island disaster, Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, and the break-up of AT&T. More recently, PR Newswire alerted the world to such events as Enron CEO Kenneth Lay’s resignation, Comcast’s unsolicited bid for Disney, news surrounding the capture of Saddam Hussein and delivered full-text statements from individuals in the media spotlight, including Mark Geragos, attorney representing Michael Jackson, Roy Disney, Pete Rose and Justin Timberlake.

PR Newswire’s legacy is also rooted in the many innovations that it has introduced to the fields of communications and journalism. Beginning in 1954 when Herbert Muschel coordinated the first direct-to-the-media, electronic news release distribution to present day where PR Newswire has become a leading source of news and information for millions of users worldwide, the company has been a driving force in developing technologies and services to improve the way organizations communicate with their investors, stakeholders and the media. Innovations that PR Newswire has pioneered over the past 50 years include the first transcontinental and transatlantic news release dissemination network, the acceptance of newswires as a disclosure vehicle for the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market, the use of the Associated Press’ delivery network to distribute corporate photography to the media, the incorporation of satellite and online technology for distributing news releases around the world, in any language, and the inclusion of targeting and monitoring products, including eWatch’s internet monitoring services and ProfNet’s expert database, to provide a full suite of services to PR and IR practitioners.

PR Newswire members and the media regularly recognize the company’s history of innovation, superior service and value. An independent survey conducted by Bulldog Reporter in September 2003 indicated that PR Newswire remains the most-used, most-credible news release wire service in the eyes of journalists.

Amy Binder, chief executive officer of RFBinder Partners, an agency of the Ruder Finn Group, one of the oldest and largest independent public relations operations in the world, said, "PR Newswire has always impressed me with their knowledge of the media and terrific customer service. These two things combined with the innovative products they offer to help PR and IR professionals target, distribute and monitor interest in their news, are unparalleled in this industry. PR Newswire has been a true partner of my company and I look forward to continuing to build this partnership over the next 50 years. Happy Anniversary PR Newswire."

Jeff Simek, vice president of corporate communications, Medco Health Solutions, Inc, a PR Newswire customer, said, “PR Newswire has always been ahead of its time. In the '90s, PR Newswire was completely digital at a time when PR professionals were still wedded to paper. And today, the wire now leads us wherever the audience for news 'lives' -- from integration with the Internet to delivery across databases through the printed word, audio and video. Congratulations on the 'First 50,' and best wishes on the second.”

Ray Kerins, senior vice president and managing director, GCI Group, said, "In the past 50 years, PR Newswire has significantly changed the landscape of the public relations industry. Their cutting edge products and services have enabled practitioners to do our jobs better, quicker and with greater return, while providing outstanding customer service. They know my business and that of my clients, which allows me to stay focused on the strategic initiatives of my clients. For these reasons I am pleased to call PR Newswire a trusted partner - Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary, PR Newswire."

PR Newswire has also been a key proponent in encouraging greater transparency and global disclosure. Recently, PR Newswire has been at the forefront of successful efforts to extend transparency regulations throughout Europe and, in 2002, PR Newswire introduced its successful model of news distribution to China, through the creation of Xinhua PR Newswire, a venture between PR Newswire and Xinhua Financial Network, an independent financial media company providing financial information and unique access to China's markets.

Today, PR Newswire serves more than half of all publicly listed companies in the United States, including nearly 60% of the Fortune 500. The company also counts 30% of the FTSE 100 as registered users of its disclosure services in the United Kingdom.

About PR Newswire
Now in its 50th year, PR Newswire Association LLC (www.prnewswire.com) provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement, translation and broadcast services on behalf of some 40,000 corporate, government, association, labor, non-profit, and other customers worldwide who seek to reach a variety of critical audience 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 135 countries and in 30 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 brands include ProfNetSM, eWatch™, Online MEDIAtlas™ and MultiVu™. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London.

About CPJ
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information about CPJ, please visit their Web site: www.cpj.org.

SOURCE: PR Newswire

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