PR Newswire Strengthened its Distribution Network with the addition of 325 New Content Partners in Asia Pacific
325 content partners were added in 2023, bringing the total number to a whopping 2.2K+ in APAC 13K more journalists have opted in to receiving press releases from the wire service provider in real-time, bringing the total to 100K active contacts in APAC HONG KONG, Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire, the leading global provider of news distribution and earned media services, remains at the forefront of the PR news industry with an ever-growing pool of content partners, journalists, and influencers in the Asia-Pacific Region. This remarkable achievement has been made possible by the support of more than 2.2K content partners, and 100K journalists across the region, fostering unparalleled growth and enhanced access to news sources. The continuous expansion of PR Newswire's content partner portfolio in 2023 demonstrates the organization's commitment to connecting clients with a wider audience, enabling them to generate impactful engagement and reach through a trusted distribution channel. Highlights of PR Newswire's Content Partnerships in APAC Key content partnerships were secured in different markets: Greater China: PR Newswire secured 179 partnerships, which include 124 in mainland China, 25 in Hong Kong, 6 in Macau and 25 in Taiwan. Some notable wins include China Daily, China Energy, FT Chinese, China.com, China Reports, Macau News Agency, LINE TODAY, ESGN, Blockchain News, Economic Daily News (Taiwan), The News Lens, DigiTimes and Quament. Japan: 2023 saw twice as many content partnerships as the previous year. This successful streak continued when PR Newswire resumed cooperation with Kyodo, Japan's largest news agency. Puzzlepiece Inc., Iwate Nippo, and Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting, Inc. are some of our newly added partners for the year. South Korea: It was also a year of meaningful growth for the region as it saw 31 additional influential media outlets added in 2023, such as, ZUM, Newstong and Blockchain Today. Australia and New Zealand: PR Newswire's valuable collaboration with Australian Associated Press (AAP) continues to grow, further enhancing the ANZ local media coverage. Southeast Asia: A total of 94 sites were added in the Southeast Asia markets, including The Manila Times, The Malaysian Reserve, Vulcan Post, and Vietnam Plus, which is under the national news agency of VNA. Antara in Indonesia, a national news agency is also among some of the key newly added content partners in 2023. All reflecting the company's commitment to delivering impactful and widespread coverage across these vital regions. Additionally, PR Newswire achieved a significant milestone in 2023 by adding 13K journalists to its database in the Asia Pacific region, bringing the total number of journalists in its network to an impressive 100K, emphasizing the platform's continued growth and expanding reach across the region. PR Newswire APAC Network Overview Global Network Enhancement PR Newswire has partnered with two of the largest national news agencies in India, PTI and ANI, enhancing our India Premium circuit. These additions will not only guarantee distributions to the networks of the two agencies, but also to 10-20 more news portals in India. Two significant partners were signed globally, including Associated Press (AP), which has begun feeding PR Newswire's content to 1.2K of its international media outlets across North America, LATAM, EMEIA, and APAC. PR Newswire also added new Yahoo sites to its network and gained extended access to some of Yahoo's international sites in different countries and regions, including Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Latin America, Singapore and Taiwan. Connecting Businesses with the Media In 2023, PR Newswire held several events in mainland China, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Sydney, and Jakarta connecting the PR and Media professionals. Media tour events aimed to give the PR professionals a peek into the behind-the-scenes of the process editors & journalists undergo by visiting their offices and studios. Media gathering events were held in several cities aiming to connect the media industry and share the latest findings. Clients and staff of PR Newswire on a media tour. A media gathering event hosted by PR Newswire. Outlook and Commitment for 2024 "The addition of content partners in 2023 is a humbling testament to PR Newswire's continued efforts in striving for excellence in our products and services, while maintaining the growth of our content network and journalists," said Lynn Liu, Vice President of Audience Development and Distribution Services at PR Newswire. He adds that, "As we look towards 2024, we are fully committed to continuously enhancing our network capabilities in the Asia Pacific region." There are also exciting plans for 2024 with the introduction of new products, including the highly anticipated APAC Premium English Circuit. This circuit will encompass an extensive network covering key markets such as China, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Securing an extensive network of content partners allows the clients of PR Newswire to nurture more long-term relationships and networking opportunities in the future. A more mutually beneficial partnership can pave the way to more collaborations, which would inherently drive growth and conversions for communications professionals. To learn more about the network of PR Newswire, visit www.prnewswire.com/apac About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.
Cision Ltd. Announces Agreement to Be Acquired by an Affiliate of Platinum Equity for $10.00 Per Share in All Cash Deal Valued at Approximately $2.74 Billion
Transaction Provides Immediate Value for Shareholders Acquisition Expected to Close in Q1 2020 CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN), a leading global provider of software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Platinum Equity in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $2.74 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the members of Cision Ltd.'s board of directors, an affiliate of Platinum Equity will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Cision Ltd. for $10.00 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a 34% premium over Cision Ltd.'s 60-day volume-weighted average price ended on October 21, 2019. A special meeting of Cision Ltd.'s shareholders will be held as soon as practicable following the filing of a definitive proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and subsequent mailing to its shareholders. Certain affiliates of GTCR, collectively holding approximately 34% of the outstanding shares of Cision Ltd., have entered into a voting agreement committing them to, among other things, vote in favor of adopting the acquisition agreement. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020 and is subject to approval by Cision Ltd.'s shareholders, along with the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and antitrust regulatory approvals, as necessary. Upon completion of the acquisition, Cision Ltd. will become wholly owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity. Cision Ltd. may solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties during a "go-shop" period from the date of the agreement until November 12, 2019. There is no guarantee that this process will result in a superior proposal, and the agreement provides Platinum Equity with a customary right to match a superior proposal and termination fee if a superior proposal is accepted. Cision Ltd. does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the solicitation process unless and until the company determines such disclosure is appropriate. "This transaction will provide shareholders with immediate and substantial cash value, while also providing us with a partner that shares in our commitment to customers and employees and can add strategic and operational value," said Kevin Akeroyd, Cision's Chief Executive Officer. "Based on our extensive engagement with Platinum over the past several months, we are confident that Platinum's support will enable Cision to execute on its strategy and next phase of growth." Commenting on the transaction, Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei said: "Cision has a long history of leadership providing software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals and has developed a growing portfolio of earned media management offerings for the world's leading brands. Platinum looks forward to nurturing Cision's core business, supporting and anticipating the diverse needs of the company's customers, and driving new opportunities for innovation. As a private company, Cision will be able to make strategic investments for sustainable and profitable growth, while remaining agile and focused on operational excellence. We are excited to partner with Cision's management team as it embarks on this new chapter." Cision Ltd. will file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q reporting its third quarter financial results but does not intend to host a quarterly earnings call. Financing & Advisors Equity financing will be provided by investment funds managed, advised or sponsored by Platinum Equity. Platinum Equity has secured committed debt financing for the transaction from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Rothschild & Co is serving as lead financial advisor to Cision and its Board of Directors. Centerview Partners LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are also acting as financial advisors to Cision. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel to Cision, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as M&A legal counsel and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is acting as financing legal counsel to Platinum Equity. For further information regarding the terms and conditions contained in the definitive merger agreement, please see Cision Ltd.'s Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed in connection with this transaction. About Cision Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN) is a leading global provider of earned media software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals. Cision's software allows users to identify key influencers, craft and distribute strategic content, and measure meaningful impact. Cision has over 4,800 employees with offices in 22 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information about its award-winning products and services, including the Cision Communications Cloud®, visit www.cision.com and follow Cision on Twitter @Cision. About Platinum Equity Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $19 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 25 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 250 acquisitions. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements made concerning the proposed transaction, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "aim," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "goal," "can," "seek," "target" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should read any such forward-looking statements carefully, as they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those projected or contemplated in any such forward-looking statement. Those risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the Company's business and the price of the Company's ordinary shares; (ii) the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the authorization of the merger agreement by the Company's shareholders and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on the Company's business relationships, operating results and business generally; (v) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction; (vi) risks related to diverting management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company related to the merger agreement or the proposed transaction, (viii) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (ix) uncertainties as to Platinum Equity's ability to obtain financing in order to consummate the merger; and (x) other risks described in the Company's filings with the SEC, such as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or the date of any document incorporated by reference in this document. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements whether as the result of new developments or otherwise. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and furnish to the Company's shareholders a proxy statement. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the Company's filings with the SEC from the Company's website at http://investors.cision.com or by directing a written request to: Cision Ltd., Attn: Secretary, 130 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601. Participants in the Solicitation The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of the Company in favor of the proposed merger. Information about directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth in the proxy statement for Cision's 2019 annual general meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on August 9, 2019. Additional information regarding the interests of these individuals and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation will be included in the proxy statement with respect to the merger that the Company will file with the SEC and furnish to the Company's shareholders. Contacts: Cision Ltd.: Investor Contact: Jack Pearlstein Chief Financial Officer Jack.Pearlstein@cision.com Media Contact: Jenn Deering Davis VP, Communications Jenn.Deering.Davis@cision.com Platinum Equity: Dan Whelan Principal, Platinum Equity dwhelan@platinumequity.com SOURCE Cision Ltd. Group, Inc.
Increased Usage of the Internet and Smartphone Drives Changes in Consumption of Traditional Media in Thailand
HONG KONG, Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire releases 2017 edition of the Thailand media landscape white paper in conjunction with Infoquest, its strategic news partner in Thailand. This is the third edition of the Thailand media landscape white paper since it was first launched in 2015. The aim of such media landscape white paper is to provide useful insights and information for navigating through the myriad of local media channels. The paper covers the latest trends on Thais media consumption habits and new updates on local medium channels such as print, broadcasting, news agency, online, social media, and search engines. Thailand Media Landscape White Paper - 2017 Edition The white paper is now available for free download. Some of the key findings in the paper include the followings: Transitioning from published hard copy to online sources The changes in lifestyle, the arrival of social media and other online media, and economic status were factors that contribute to changes in reading habits in Thailand. Online networking and social media have provided more reading sources for the Thai people. The value of newspaper advertising has declined significantly while spending on internet advertising is on the rise. Editorial headcounts and new hiring were put to a halt for many small newspapers publishers, while others including the well-established publishers ceased operations. The digital age has modernized the production of magazines - from traditional print edition sold on magazine racks to digital e-magazines News agencies play a vital role as producers and distributors of news content More Thai people are accessing the social media of news websites and getting news via news apps. However, news from mainstream media receives the highest rating for trustworthiness. Online news from official news agencies is the most trusted source, follow by online news shared by friends. News agencies are relying on technology and providing more in-depth analysis and investigative content to stand out from their competition. Room for growth for broadcasting media Although traditional radio is easy to access, growing numbers of people have shifted to online radio as 4G technology has made listening to online radio easier, more convenient and smoother than before. Radio compared favorably with other above-the-line media like analog and digital TV, which saw advertising spending decline. Viewership and ratings for digital TV are rising, however advertising revenue is still lagging behind analog TV. The Internet remains the most popular medium in Thailand The majority of Thais access the internet via mobile phones for an average of six hours per day and the most popular activity is communicating via social media. YouTube, Facebook and LINE are the top three most used social media platforms by Gen Y/Gen Z Thais. LINE is most popular among Baby Boomers and Gen X. Thai online shoppers lead the world in direct purchase via social media channels, ahead of India and China. Google has a monopoly in Thailand's search engine market and more investments were put into running search engines advertising in 2016, as compared to previous years when most businesses paid little attention to it. For more information about the white paper, please contact: Asia Pacific Marketing Team Tel: +852-2572-8228 Email: asia.marketing@prnasia.com About PR Newswire PR Newswire, a Cision company, is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms and distribution that marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers leverage to engage key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- and then distribute and measure results. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire powers the stories of organizations around the world. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. Cision is a leading global media intelligence company, serving the complete workflow of today's communication professionals. Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170209/8521700757 Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160617/8521603993LOGO-d
Grow Your Digital Audience by Creating Interactive News Contents and Social Media Engagement
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The second PR Newswire's Media Supported by Perhumas, Asosiasi Perusahaan Public Relations Indonesia (APPRI) and Bubu Kreasi Perdana, the event gathered top communications and Public Relations professionals to discuss ways to craft engaging content that digital audience actually pay attention to. Coffee event in Jakarta was successfully hosted on October 19, 2016 which drew more than 100 attendees from various industries. It featured an insightful panel discussion from Uni Lubis, Managing Director, Rappler Indonesia; Cipluk Carlita, Communication Manager, Twitter Indonesia; and Rawaney Rawung, Head of Content, Edelman Indonesia on How to Optimize Newsworthy Content in the Digital Age . The archived video of the event is now available upon registration. Speakers of PR Newswire's Media Coffee in Jakarta Digital-First Strategy Has Become the New Norm for Modern-Day Newsrooms Founded by veteran journalists in 2011, Rappler, an award-winning news network startup is one of Southeast Asia'sleading news websites and has strong presence on social media with nearly three million 'Likes' on Facebook and about two million followers on Twitter. Uni Lubis, Rappler Indonesia's Managing Director shared best practices of news-gathering at Rappler, which is headquartered in Manila, the Philippines. Some of the key takeaways from her discussion include: Digital-first approach requires journalists from modern-day newsrooms to use social media platforms as tools for producing news, navigating social conversations, distributing news stories as well as reaching out to news audiences; To cater attention spans of digital news audiences, journalists are now applying new skillsets of gathering and delivering news including data journalism, live-blogging, news-reporting via live-streaming app such as Periscope; PR and communications professionals need to adapt to the shifting of news-gathering and news-consumption patterns by providing engaging contents for journalists: ditching out large blocks of text and using bulleted lists in press releases, utilizing interactive multimedia elements, and learning how to apply SEO tactics to drive news discovery. Driving Twitter Engagement: Beyond 140 Characters Indonesia is one of the most active nations on Twitter and Cipluk Carlita of Twitter Indonesia talked about how to master the microblogging platform beyond 140 characters. Here are a few tips from Cipluk: Every social media platform, including Twitter has their unique audience and content consumption habit. Creating meaningful conversations by incorporating photos, videos and even GIFs will provide a greater chance of getting engagement on Twitter; As a platform, Twitter goes beyond 140 characters. Twitter's features such as Polls and Periscope can be used to engage key audiences with more relevant conversations. A Push for Smarter Ways of Storytelling with 360-Degree Approach Communications marketing -- a blend of effective storytelling as well as strategizing earned and owned media approach, with paid as an accelerator -- has quickly become Edelman's new mantra for the past years. Waraney Rawung of Edelman Indonesia discussed how Public Relations professionals need to create compelling narratives that take enterprises and brands to succeed. Some of highlights from his discussion include: Every communications planning and execution should include a good mix of paid, owned and earned media. A narrowly-focused strategy will risk missing your communications objectives; While we are now living in a digital world overloaded with data and information, only a handful of Public Relations practitioners know how to use these data in their storytelling. It is imperative to understand the audience's mindset and uncover compelling stories that form the foundation of every effective storytelling strategy. About PR Newswire's Media Coffee The goal of Media Coffee is to enable communications professionals to hear from leading media organizations on how their respective companies work, providing insight into their specialist areas, giving advice on achieving coverage and informing them on effective targeting of journalists within their sector and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship. About PR Newswire PR Newswire, a Cision company, is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms and distribution that marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers leverage to engage key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- and then distribute and measure results. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire powers the stories of organizations around the world. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. Cision is a leading global media intelligence company, serving the complete workflow of today's communication professionals. For further information, please contact: PR Newswire's Asia Marketing Team +852 2572 8228 asia.marketing@prnasia.com Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161103/8521607173 Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160617/8521603993LOGO-d Source: PR Newswire
How to Inspire Conversation that Captures the Audience's Attention
-PR Newswire's Media Coffee event was held in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong last month with the topic of: "Blurred Lines: Finding Clarity with Your Audience in Fight for Time & Attention". HONG KONG, June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In the last two weeks, PR Newswire held a series of Media Coffee events in its key markets in the Asia-Pacific, namely Kuala Lumpur (on 19 May), Singapore (on 22 May) and Hong Kong (on 28 May). Together with our keynote speaker Michael Pranikoff and local guest speakers, the events looked into the challenges that marketers encounter today in an omni-channel world with the blurring lines of media continuing to cause confusion for marketers to identify the right channels to capture the audience's attention. While marketers strive to create engaging and valuable content, it is a complete waste of time if it is not discoverable through building distribution tactics into the content marketing plan to drive the audience's discovery of key messages. This is essentially the epitome of achieving relevance and credibility with the target audience in order to gain maximum brand visibility. The archived video of the events in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong are available for viewing upon registration. Good Storytelling today requires making your story easy for someone else to tell Michael Pranikoff, who is the Global Director of Emerging Market at PR Newswire, had repeatedly emphasised the need to make storytelling not only interesting but also making it easy for someone else to tell. Michael, who was the keynote speaker for all three media coffee events, pointed out that as the media landscape evolved and different devices are now permeating our life, marketers and publishers must adapt to the changing consumer in where, when and how they consume content. "We got to create story that grabs attention and is visual in nature because it's easier for someone to re-tell and use that story, which in turn generate more interest and traffic by media talking about it, which then generate better search visibility for your story," explained Michael. Some of the interesting highlights include: While there has been ongoing discussion of the convergence of earned, owned and paid media, in reality, paid media outweighs earned and owned media in terms of how companies are communicating their stories to their audience. The reason being companies are not finding great success in social media. Organic reach of content on social media continues to drop because content published and shared by brands is basically advertisements. Only five percent of the traffic to B2B and B2C websites is driven by social, while 51 percent is driven by organic search. On the other end, social media is driving more traffic to publisher and media than search. To create good search and rankings online, brands have to first create good content that create conversation. Adding multimedia to content not only adds context to it but also drives discovery. We have 30 seconds to get the audience's attention and besides having a powerful headline, a good visual is critical as people make visual decisions in only three seconds. Create content that is easy to use so that your story is easy for someone else to tell as in the case of IBM's Millennial Study. If you cannot grab the audience's attention with headlines, you're done Bernhard Schutte is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for EBM Sdn Bhd, a venture capital company. "Our group of companies have discovered doing press release is definitely the best way to get your story out there," said Bernhard. According to him, the press release is one of the best ways to get your messages across to your audience and a good press release is not only valuable, but can also change the company's direction. Some of his key points include: Press releases are cheaper and much more effective than advertising Your release has to have news value The headline is the most important Good content is in great demand as the cost is becoming expensive for the media Customise the press release to focus on region, culture, industry, groups and audiences. Be what people are interested in and stop interrupting what they are interested in "Nobody reads ads. People read what interests them, and sometimes, it's an ad," said Riccardo Ottolenghi who is the head of advisory services at CTRL/SHIFT. He underpinned the importance of producing content that is of interest to your audience through examples such as Ikea and highlighted the fact that technology today has enabled brands to communicate in ways that are more focused, personal and fit for the situation. Brands can finally sell what their target audience needs, when they need it. He also pointed out that while 79 percent of marketers expected to face a high level of complexity over five years' time, only 48 percent felt prepared. Speakers (Second from the left to Right: Riccardo Ottolenghi, Bernhard Schutte and Michael Pranikoff) and PR Newswire local staff in Kuala Lumpur You are defined by the way you distribute. You are how you distribute "Content is King, but Distribution is Queen" was the central idea of the presentation delivered by Alan Soon who is the CEO and Founder of The Splice Newsroom, and was the guest speaker for the media coffee event inSingapore. "The future of journalism is about how you create content and how you distribute," said Alan. He also shared a few case studies including the New York Times' Nails Salon and Spotify which illustrated how media, especially the traditional media is exploring alternative distribution outside the usual norms so as to reach a wider and more social savvy audience. Left to Right: Royce Shih, VP of Sales & Marketing of PR Newswire in Asia-Pacific, Michael Pranikoff and guest speaker of Singapore event, Alan Soon The marketer's job is to help journalists tell interesting stories Angie Lau, an anchor at Bloomberg Television based in Hong Kong, was the guest speaker at the Hong Kong event which is also the last stop of the Media Coffee series. A global journalist with more than 16 years' experience, Angie highlighted that journalists and marketers are essentially talking to the same audience although each has a different agenda. When asked about how to get buy in from management to create content as measurement is difficult, Angie said "I will say to your boss, what came first? The chicken or the egg? You can't get ROI unless you get the story out there but you can't get the story out there unless you have ROI? This is the universal problem and at the end of the day, this media industry is moving so quickly it is almost impossible to have ROI." The job of marketers if they want to engage the media is to get journalists' attention and tell them why their stories are interesting by observing some of the do's and don'ts: Don't be boring and ignorant of your audience Don't forget the 5Ws: Who, Why, When, What, Where (and How) Do use videos and images Do expect to rise to the demands and challenges from media/journalists Left to Right: Michael Pranikoff and guest speaker of Hong Kong event, Angie Lau To receive alerts of the next series of Media Coffee event, register or follow us on LinkedIn,Twitter@PRNAsia or Facebook. About PR Newswire Media Coffee The goal of Media Coffee is to enable communications professionals to hear from leading media organizations on how their respective companies work, providing insight into their specialist areas, giving advice on achieving coverage and informing them on effective targeting of journalists within their sector and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship. About PR Newswire PR Newswire (www.prnasia.com) is the premier global provider of news release distribution and multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, public relations officers and investor relations professionals to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry in 1954, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, distribute, target and measure text and multimedia content across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, we enable the world's enterprises to tell their stories to the world. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Media contacts Asia Marketing Team +852 2572-8228 asia.marketing@prnasia.com Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150605/8521503686-a Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150605/8521503686-b Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150605/8521503686-c Source: PR Newswire
Intuitive Reporting for Busy Communications Professionals
PR Newswire's Visibility Reports are enhanced to produce a more streamlined user experience which is unmatched by other newswires. HONG KONG, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the biggest challenges Marketing and PR professionals are facing is measuring results of their campaign effort; however with new technology advancing and the big boom of social media, there are more and more tools and resources to help make their jobs easier. For press release efforts, PR Newswire's Visibility Reports offer communications professionals insights into how their releases are resonating with the specific audiences they have targeted with their news. Most importantly, Visibility Reports helps determine their return on newswire investment (ROI). PR Newswire Visibility Reports offer innovative analytics (i.e., Industry Benchmarks, human views versus webcrawler hits) and a breadth of data (i.e., media views, organization views, etc.) which is unmatched by other newswires. PR Newswire launched a new version of the Visibility Reports (VR3) recently, which was developed to further streamline the interface for clients, making the reports easier to navigate, understand and share. Here are some of the key new features: Fewer tabs, more value: The reporting sections have been reorganized and the number of reporting sections (tabs) has been reduced from eight to five (Overview, Distribution, Traffic, Audience, Engagement) to provide an easier progression through the data. PR Newswire’s New Visibility Reports streamlined into five intuitive tabs. Visuals: VR3 debuts new and enhanced dynamic graphics -- telling the story of clients' release results in the blink of an eye. Many of the metrics will also feature updated "mouse over data," providing additional background on the statistics displayed. Enhance Exports: Export and sharing options will now include the option to download visuals in a variety of formats (PNG, JPG, PDF and SVG Vector image). It will be easier than ever to incorporate Visibility Reports' data and graphics in clients' own custom reports. Key Metrics or Detailed Analysis? Your Pick: Some customers just want key metrics while others like detailed analysis. So to satisfy everyone, the new report tabs have the key metrics highlighted right at the top of the page, a summary section showing a visual breakdown of the data, and all the details in expandable tables with pie graphs where appropriate. Greater Integration of Multimedia: VR3 now shows data on traffic to customers' multimedia assets with all the other traffic data. Hence there is no separate multimedia tab and these views, plays and downloads can be found in the Traffic tab. New format of VR reports email: The emails will contain more metrics such as: Content & timing: Instead of focusing solely on the results of PR Newswire syndication network, the new email reports will include a sprinkling of data from throughout VR3. Clients will be able to choose to receive emails at the following intervals after distribution: 2 hours (default); 24 hours (optional), 48 hours (default), 5 days (default) & 30 days (default). As such, the emails that PR Newswire sends out with these links can be referred to by the time frame of the email delivery, as in the 2-hour report, the 24-hour report, etc. The subject line: The new subject line will display the headline of the release, along with the timing of the report. Example: WowLighting Exposes LED Myths... PR Newswire 2 hour report. The number of links: Instead of sending ALL online postings, VR3 will send the top 25 online postings for arelease, based on visitors per day, however clients will always be able to view all postings by simply clicking on the Instant Access link in the email or via the new Distribution tab within the Visibility Reports platform. An example of a new VR3-2 hour email To learn more about VR3, please contact our client services team at +852-2572-8228 or email us athkcs@prnasia.com. About PR Newswire: PR Newswire (http://www.prnasia.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Media Contacts: Fern Cheng Senior Marketing Manager, Asia-Pacific, ex-China +852-3971-4977 fern.cheng@prnasia.com Joanna Yip Marketing Communications Manager +852-3971-4989 joanna.yip@prnasia.com Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20140120/8521400310LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20141117/8521406874-a Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20141117/8521406874-b Source: PR Newswire Related Links: http://www.prnasia.com
Communications Professionals Learn How to be a Better Brand Storyteller
PR Newswire held its first media coffee event in Malaysia on June 6, 2014 with the topic "Brand Storytelling: how to maximize the impact of your press releases". HONG KONG, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The competition to get noticed by the press is fiercer than ever. What can brand storytellers leverage to better communicate with the media? At PR Newswire Media Coffee in Kuala Lumpur, three expert speakers from the media industry shared their insights and views on how to maximize a brand's visibility in today's changing media landscape. The event attracted an eclectic mix of communicators from companies such as agency Hill & Knowlton, 123RF and Royal Selangor that became highly engaged with the event. An archived video of the event is available here upon registration. Top Right: (Left to right) Speakers: Helen Zhang, Senior Manager, Audience Development of PR Newswire in Asia, Joshua Cohen, Vice President of Content Licensing & Distribution of PR Newswire based in New York and Freda Liu, Certified Professional Coach, a producer and presenter, BFM 89.9. Top Left: Q&A session, one participant asked how to make content interesting enough to get the attention of the press. Bottom Left: Participants of the event engaged with Joshua sharing how to write a better press release. "We are delighted to have successfully organized the first media coffee event in Malaysia with BFM 89.9's support," says Helen Zhang, Senior Manager, Audience Development of PR Newswire in Asia. "Since the opening of PR Newswire's operation in Malaysia in early 2013, our Kuala Lumpur office has not only expanded our distribution network in Malaysia, but has also been supporting more than 60 clients. We are looking forward to working with more media partners and clients in Malaysia." Press Releases Still Matter Joshua Cohen, Vice President, Content Licensing & Distribution of PR Newswire, based in New York, opened the event on how mobile driven the world is today and shared how to optimize press releases with SEO tips in order to capture more readers. Tips included the following: Link strategically. Link only to provide more information for journalists and potential customers. Set up the story and put the most important information in the first paragraph. Embed a call-to-action towards the top of the press release, ideally in the first paragraph of the press release. Headline matters. Write a headline that grabs readers' attention and also a perfect tweet, ideally between 80-130 characters. (Use a subheading to add more detail.) Break up the text with bullet points and bold to make news easy to read and digest. Amplifying = Storytelling + Distribution With 68% of journalists checking newswire at least once a day*, the media is constantly looking for newsworthy information and story ideas. The second speaker, Helen Zhang, Senior Manager, Audience Development of PR Newswire in Asia, discussed ways to amplify branded content, including the following: Almost half of internet users are based in APAC. It's essential to understand targeted audiences in greater depth. Communicators can turn to white papers such as PR Newswire's Asian Media Landscape Series as a guide for navigating through print, broadcast, online, social media and search engines in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Good storytelling: embed values which promote emotions and lead to engagement. PR Newswire's Beyond PR: Asia article provides three values that will resonate with an Asian audience. Using multimedia elements (photos, videos and logos) to increase journalists' and public engagement. Making content discoverable with a distribution and syndication plan to gain earned media. Bluff Free Media Freda Liu, Certified Professional Coach and a producer and presenter on BFM 89.9 -- the only independent business radio station in Malaysia, talked about BFM 89.9's (BFM) vision and what content a media company like them are looking for to engage their listeners. Highlights included: Understanding listeners and their needs. BFM conducted an online survey and 25% of their listeners represent untapped investments. BFM's target listeners are affluent and well-informed about financial and business matters. Accompanying radio programs with video, it's not just radio that will do all the work. Interacting with listeners with social networking such as Facebook and Twitter and events. When pitching for an interview, to angle on how it will solve a need as opposed to selling a company's product or service. For an interview on the radio, corporate communications and PR agencies could prepare questions and answers listed in bullet points, as it would sound more natural compared to reading scripts. It is comparatively less intimidating and notes can still be brought into the studio. For more post events photos, materials and video clips connect with us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/prnewswireasia, LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/pr-newswire-asia or Twitter @PRNAsia. About Media Coffee: The goal of Media Coffee event is to enable communications professionals to hear from leading media organizations on how their respective companies work, providing insight into their specialist areas, giving advice on achieving coverage and informing them on effective targeting of journalists within their sector and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship. About PR Newswire PR Newswire (http://en.prnasia.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Media Contacts: Fern Cheng Senior Marketing Manager, Asia-Pacific, ex-China +852-3971-4977 fern.cheng@prnasia.com Joanna Yip Marketing Communications Manager +852-3971-4989 joanna.yip@prnasia.com *2013 Survey of PR Newswire for Journalists Members
PR Newswire Announces the Finalists of 'The Earnies' Awards Program, Honoring Creativity in a New Earned Media Landscape
Winners determined by public voting through AGILITY@work, www.agilitycommunity.com, until February 20th NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire today announced the finalists and opened up public voting of 'The Earnies,' the first community-chosen awards program recognizing innovative earned media campaigns executed through social media channels. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130207/NY56314 ) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130117/NY44355LOGO-a ) "The practice of PR has dramatically changed and communications professionals are forced to think outside the box and reimagine their earned media strategies to effectively connect with their audiences," said Rachel Meranus, vice president, marketing and communications, PR Newswire. "This year's Earnies finalists - which represent a range of industries - utilized a number of creative tactics to drive campaign success, and we are excited to see which stand out as the community favorites and become the winners." Community voting is open to the public for a span of two weeks, ending Wednesday, February 20th. Voters can select their favorites in each category by visiting the AGILITY@work site and should follow @AgilityAtWork on Twitter for program updates and final announcement of the winners. Winners will be announced by the end of the month. Entries were judged based on strategy, creativity, results and overall 'awesomeness' of the campaigns. Up to three finalists were named in each of the following categories: The Earnies Grand Prix • The Advertising Council – "FWD Campaign" by the Ad Council and USAID • General Electric – HealthyShare: Surprise and Delight • Gutterglove – Gutterglove Brings China Manufacturing Back to California To learn more about the "Earnies Grand Prix" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Connection to Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook Audience • New Media Strategies – Engaging the Casual Wine Buyer: The Wine Bar Facebook Community • Summertime Entertainment's Dorothy of Oz – Totally Toto Tuesdays • Magic Software Enterprises – Magic's Rebranded Facebook Page Gained Over 50k Followers To learn more about the "Best Connection to Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook Audience" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Integrated Campaign on a Shoestring Budget • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – Zoo Olympics • Wunderman Seattle – Halo 4 Key Art Reveal • Gutterglove – Gutterglove Brings China Manufacturing Back to California To learn more about the "Best Integrated Campaign on a Shoestring Budget" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Piece of Branded Content • CSC – Connected Consumer • Huddle Productions – Bud Light Bands • New Media Strategies – ACCCE To learn more about the "Best Piece of Branded Content" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Use of an Infographic • Cisco – The Internet of Things • Cisco – Worklife Cloud • PriceGrabber.com – Back-to-School Shopping Forecast and Consumer Trends To learn more about the "Best Use of an Infographic" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Use of Video in Social Media: • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – Ele's Day Off • Cody Westheimer – Kona IRONMAN World Championship • LatentView Analytics – Confessions of a Serial Analyst To learn more about the "Best Use of Video in Social Media" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Best Visual Campaign through Pinterest or Instagram • RA Sushi Bar Restaurant – RA on Pinterest • Fathom – ConsumerCrafts Back-To-School Crafter's Challenge To learn more about the "Best Visual Campaign through Pinterest or Instagram" entries and to cast your vote, click here. We Can't Believe That Worked! • General Electric – HealthyShare: Surprise and Delight • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – Live Tweeting • New Media Strategies – ACCCE "Click-to-Call" Grassroots Advocacy To learn more about the "We Can't Believe That Worked!" entries and to cast your vote, click here. Public voting will not be open for the two remaining categories, "Best Global Communications Campaign" and "Best Use of Social Listening for Campaign Planning" due to a lack of qualified entries. Winners will be announced in these categories when the all of the Earnies winners are announced. About PR Newswire: PR Newswire is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 58 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content — from rich media to online video to multimedia — and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Media Contacts: Meryl Serouya Marketing & Communications Manager 201-360-6009 Meryl.Serouya@prnewswire.com Web Site: http://www.agilitycommunity.com
PR Newswire and Alibaba Enjoy Successful Partnership
Partnership aided export-oriented firms in expanding into overseas markets BEIJING, Aug 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --PR Newswire and Alibaba International Business Operations have recently concluded a cooperative agreement that signaled the first time the two companies had partnered to help China's export-oriented enterprises expand into overseas markets. As part of the cooperation, PR Newswire offered a series of overseas promotional services for up to 100 of Alibaba’s premium clients, with press releases and photo distributions the focal point. The agreement received an enthusiastic response from those firms lucky enough to take part. Executives from a number of Alibaba's clients were immediately interested upon hearing about the partnership with PR Newswire, asking for details and actively seeking to take part in the initiative. In return, PR Newswire offered a specially customized support system that was designed to help companies that were less experienced in international communications. This comprehensive set-up included English-language press release templates ranging from announcements on the location of one’s booth at an upcoming tradeshow to new products, awards and partnerships. For those clients interested in including high-resolution images in their announcements, PR Newswire also offered the opportunity to have these images display on the Reuters Sign in Times Square, New York. The sign, which soars 23 stories into the sky above Times Square, receives more than 1.5 million impressions per day. In addition, communication consultants at PR Newswire contacted each and every firm directly to offer consultative services and provide suggestions on the best ways to promote one’s news. Results from this cooperative effort already show that the press releases, distributed to PR Newswire's largest US circuit, which includes over 7,000 traditional media and almost 6,000 websites, are generating the right kind of results. Firms using the service have already reported having received inquiries from potential customers soon after their press releases were distributed. Vivienne Li, director of sales for PR Newswire in China, said, “In the same way that our China-based customers seek to expand their market reach domestically, they are also paying an increasing amount of attention to overseas media coverage. The distribution of a press release is a key element in any communications strategy, especially when expanding into foreign markets, and we're delighted that the deal with Alibaba led to such great results for the companies issuing announcements through us. PR Newswire currently serves over 1,800 organizations in China, and through this cooperation, we have enjoyed helping companies with less experience in improving their branding efforts in international markets.” “To help more Chinese exporters conduct promotions in overseas markets and assist Chinese enterprises in becoming bigger and stronger through cooperation with more third-party partners is one of the ways in which we deepen the level of services that we provide to our customers,” said Chao Du, Alibaba International Business Operations strategic partnership director, when commenting on the success of this partnership. The two companies also confirmed that they were actively seeking new opportunities to work together again in the future. About Alibaba International Business Operations Alibaba International Business Operations (www.alibaba.com) is one of Alibaba Group’s seven major business groups with a focus on helping small businesses around the world go global through e-commerce. Formed in July 2012 as a result of the consolidation and upgrade of the Alibaba.com international marketplace and AliExpress, Alibaba International Business Operations aims at creating the go-to English-language platform for cross-border trade and purchases between any two countries as well as helping small businesses worldwide expand to overseas markets. As of March 31, 2012, Alibaba.com had 27.3 million registered users from more than 240 countries and regions and showcased 2.4 million supplier storefronts. About PR Newswire PR Newswire (en.prnasia.com ) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 58 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. For more information, please contact: PR Newswire Marketing Tel: +86-10-5953-9598 Email: marketing@prnasia.com
PR Newswire Launches App for iPhone, iPod Touch
iPad optimized App, Blackberry & Android Apps coming soon PR Newswire Mobile App allows users to easily view, search and share news and multimedia content In a move that will afford PR Newswire's customers unparalleled reach to mobile users, the company has launched an application for the iPhone and iPod touch, with optimized applications for iPad, Blackberry and Android devices on the way. The PR Newswire Mobile App empowers users with direct access to breaking news from many of the world's leading brands and organizations that issue text and multimedia press releases and information over PR Newswire every day. The technology offers users the ability to search and browse PR Newswire's extensive database of press releases and photos and isolate specific news items based on criteria such as keyword, industry topic and stock symbol. Searches are saved so that users can quickly navigate to the press releases that interest them the most. The PR Newswire Mobile App also provides a gateway for users to share content via email, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and watch videos distributed via MultiVu, PR Newswire's broadcast and multimedia division. PR Newswire is the only commercial news distribution service offering text, photos and a distinct video channel through its own iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch application. The introduction of the PR Newswire Mobile App adds to PR Newswire's extensive global delivery of text and multimedia press releases to mobile applications and news platforms such as Thomson One Mobile, Bloomberg Mobile and Dow Jones Factiva Mobile. In the coming months, PR Newswire plans to extend its Mobile App service to the BlackBerry and Android platforms, including Nexus One, while also launching a fully optimized iPad App. "Recognizing the shift from the laptop to the handheld device, PR Newswire became an early adopter of mobile news distribution and developed a mobile strategy that is designed to keep our customers at the forefront of the communications landscape as it continues to become more mobile," said Joshua B. Cohen, director, Content Licensing & Distribution, PR Newswire. "PR Newswire's free, downloadable Mobile App for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is just one of many initiatives that we are undertaking to mobilize our customers' news." Tens of millions of iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users worldwide can access the PR Newswire Mobile App for no-charge download at the Apple App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pr-newswire-news-releases/id365947542?mt=8. or by simply entering “PR Newswire” in the App Store search field. Once uploaded, users can immediately access and share breaking news or search for specific press releases and video content based on name, services, products, people, stock symbol or other customizable keywords. The PR Newswire Mobile App also lets users interact with PR Newswire’s @ProfNet and @PRNewswire Twitter feeds, and subscribers of PR Newswire's expert network, ProfNet, can use the PR Newswire Mobile App to access fast-breaking queries from reporters seeking article sources and expert commentary. Cohen continued, “The PR Newswire Mobile App provides a variety of audiences with the freedom to stay informed whenever and wherever they want – journalists on the go, policy influencers, investors seeking market news, and consumers looking for information on new products and services from thousands of companies and organizations. Company executives can track what's being announced by competitors and partners while saving their own releases to show on the go. Marketing and communications professionals can stay abreast of valuable industry news, media queries on ProfNet, and industry intelligence through PR Newswire's Twitter feeds. In the cab, on a plane, at a trade show … you'll now have PR Newswire wherever your work or travels take you.” Designed and developed for PR Newswire by Newstex, the PR Newswire Mobile App takes advantage of the latest mobile technology. PR Newswire content is available to app developers. For more information, please contact jonathan.evans@prnewswire.com. About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the global leader in innovative communications and marketing services, enabling organizations to connect and engage with their target audiences worldwide. Through its multi-channel distribution network, multimedia, audience intelligence, targeting, measurement and compliance services, PR Newswire helps corporations and organizations conduct rich, timely and dynamic dialogues with the media, consumers, policymakers, investors and the general public, in support of building brands, generating awareness, impacting public policy, driving sales, and raising capital. Pioneering the commercial news distribution industry 56 years ago, PR Newswire connects customers with audiences in more than 170 countries and in over 40 languages through an unparalleled network of offices in 16 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and via unique affiliations with the leading news agencies across the globe. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited (UBM.L), a leading global business media company that serves professional commercial communities around the world. For more information, go to www.UBM.com. Click here to view the multimedia news release. Media Contacts: Rachel Meranus +1.201.360.6776 rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com Robert Zhao +8610 5953 9598 robert.zhao@prnasia.com
PR Newswire Asia Hosts Media Coffee in Beijing and Shanghai to Discuss Effective Media Communications
-- China's largest corporate news distributor, PR Newswire Asia, recently hosted two much acclaimed media coffee events in Beijing and Shanghai respectively. The July 16 event was held in PR Newswire Asia's Beijing office, under the theme, “Writing Methodology of Travel News Release and Media Application”. Media representatives from Culture, New Travel, China Times, as well as over 20 clients attended. Yang Jiankun, senior journalist from Culture shared with the audience some professional knowledge in photography, particularly focusing on skills of travel photography skills. Sun Yang from Voyage guided the attendees in studying the characteristics of Chinese media, offering an "insider" viewpoint, while also providing a deeper focus on how travel companies should develop their media strategies based on their own characteristics. Wen Xu form China Times elaborate a financial media’s focus on tourism and how to obtain optimal media exposure among financial media. A live feed for the event was broadcasted online through an advanced internet network which enabled clients and PR/Marketing experts who were unable to join on site to access the media coffee from the cyberspace. Media representatives and over 20 PR/Marketing experts from travel companies attended the event Sun Yang, Marketing Manager, Voyage Another workshop revolving around "multimedia news release distribution" was held the following day, July 17, in PR Newswire Asia's Shanghai office. Chang He, associate editor from Oriental Morning Post, Chu Cuican from PR Photo, and Zhang Xiang, Multimedia Product Manager from PR Newswire Asia and more than 55 corporate representatives exchanged their ideas and experiences through in depth discussions over the topic “Corporate Image and Multimedia Press Release Distribution”. The 3 speakers, all with very rich experiences in the visual communications field, agreed that corporate image is of utmost importance in news distribution, and all of them emphasized good press releases must be accompanied with good pictures. Companies should grasp various angles to take a good photo in case editors ignored. “Media coffee is a way to enhance the contact between our clients and the media, while PR and marketing experts get an opportunity to promote their own brands through participating in our media coffee,” said Yujie Chen, Managing Director, China, PR Newswire Asia. “The next media coffee will be held in our Shenzhen office, and we sincerely welcome more clients to join us.” Zhang Xiang, Multimedia Product Manager, PR Newswire Asia Listening to the experts About PR Newswire Asia Media Coffee For over 50 years, PR Newswire has provided electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of organizations worldwide, covering media communities in 170 countries. PR Newswire Asia hosts regular Media coffees, bridging media with corporate PR professionals to discuss the latest developments in the communications field. PR Newswire Asia has continued this tradition since 2002 by hosting regular media coffees in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taiwan and now Singapore, This has assisted hundreds of PR professionals in expanding their communications networks by directly interacting with local reporters and editors.
PR Newswire Asia Holds Media Coffee for Financial Media in Beijing
On April 22, 2009, PR Newswire Asia held a media coffee with the theme “How to Better Know and Leverage Financial Media to Expand Corporate Presence” in Beijing. Corporate marketing/PR officers from over 20 Chinese domestic and multinational companies, including China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), ImmunoVac, SK Telecom, ENN Group, HNA Tourism, Ketchum, ZHONGPIN INC, Inspur, CECT, VisionChina Media, dhgate.com and China Beijing Equity Exchange, together with senior journalists and executive editors from China’s mainstream financial media such as 21st Century Business Herald, The Economic Observer Newspaper and China Securities Journal, exchanged their ideas and had in depth discussions over such topics as characteristics of financial media, layout, requirements and standards for selecting corporate news releases, what issues enterprises need to pay attention to in daily news communications and in communications with the media, as well as other news distribution methods. The emergence of established financial media has become a new highlight in China’s media industry, and almost all media outlets in the country have unprecedentedly improved their concern about financial and economic news. As a result, how to well know the characteristics of financial media to successfully promote corporate brands has become a hot topic. Now in China, Beijing and Guangzhou are the top two cities in terms of development of financial media that mainly occur as daily, weekly and monthly. And three is an increasing consolidation within the industry. The Media Coffee invited three established financial and securities newspaper offices to communicate face to face with enterprise representatives, giving enterprises a deeper knowledge of the characteristics, news gathering process and operations of the media. Among the enterprises at the Media Coffee, most are or are going to distribute news through PR Newswire Asia. Representatives from the enterprises said after the meeting that PR Newswire Asia not only enables enterprises to distribute corporate news in a cost-efficient way, but also provides enterprises and the media an opportunity for idea exchange by organizing such an open dialogue platform, significantly improving their marketing and PR efficiencies. 21st Century Business Herald’s Chen Xing during Speech Chen Xing, 21st Century Business Herald Director for Beijing News Center She introduced the newspaper’s basic information, industries of concern and series reports on 3G. The director first explained the layout and printing process of 21st Century Business Herald, one of the major financial newspapers of 21st CENTURY NEWS GROUP. 21st Century Business Herald is a deepened daily which never adopts newsflash no more than 1,000 words. It focuses more on industry-leading companies, especially their market positions, strategies, investment, M&As and changes in listed companies’ financial positions. In addition, the newspaper has an independent and unique insight into events reported, instead of simply promoting products. She also introduced the series reports on 3G, covering competition among carriers, adjustments involving governmental department, reorganizations of carriers, comparison between three licences, standards for selecting device vendors, as well as developing trends within and outlook for the industry. 21st Century Business Herald started international reporting at the end of last year, and is one of the financial media that took the lead in entering the field. It has correspondent stations in the US, Singapore, South Africa and Europe, allowing it to provide in-dept reports on Chinese enterprises abroad. China Securities Journal Editor Li Yuchuan Answering Enterprise Representatives’ Questions Li Yuchuan, Senior Journalist, General Editing Dept, China Securities Journal He gave a detailed introduction to characteristics, layout and topic selecting process of the newspaper. China Securities Journal, founded in October 1992, is a national professional securities journal run by Xinhua News Agency. It was designated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Insurance Regulatory Commission and China Banking Regulatory Commission as the authoritative newspaper to disclose information on listed companies, insurance companies and trust companies. It is based in Beijing, and has two offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen. China Securities Journal mainly provides securities and financial reports, covering general economic trends in and out of China, macroeconomic policies, securities markets and listed companies, as well as currency, insurance, fund, futures, real estate, foreign exchange and gold markets. It also has great influence in a broader financial field. Positioned as a reliable investment advisor, China Securities Journal has a commitment to providing investors with guidance for investment choice. The topic selecting process of the journal includes important topic screening, daily topic selecting meeting, meeting before editing, layout, editing, imposition and printing. If important news can not be distributed timely in print version, then they will be distributed online. (Press conference is advised to be arranged on any day from Monday to Thursday). As regards news selection, “what’s going on？” is a key criterion, as a securities newspaper focuses more on a company’s latest news, forward moves and outlook, rather than on what happened. In addition, the journal pays much attention to news background, which should be presented in attractive leads. The Economic Observer Newspaper Journalist Yang Yang during Speech Yang Yang, Senior Journalist, Company Column, The Economic Observer Newspaper First, she briefly introduced The Economic Observer Newspaper and its unique requirements for news, and shared her experience in and views on timeliness of news and criteria for news selection. She also had a heated discussion with corporate HR professionals on news verification and The Economic Observer Newspaper’s special requirements for news. Yang gave a detailed introduction to the six main columns of the newspaper, including Home News, Front-Page Story, (Financial) Market News, Industry Report, Company Report and Observer. The Industry Report column, which is highly associated with the enterprises attending the meeting, focuses on providing in-depth, exclusive and strategically important reports by describing, analyzing and discussing moves in the IT sector, local companies, listed companies, multinational companies and small and medium -sized enterprises (VC). As an economic weekly that mainly focuses on economic review and corporate management, The Economic Observer Newspaper interprets economic policies, and analyzes trends and moves in the financial sector, industries and companies. As a journalist, Yang Yang said she not only welcomes exclusive corporate news and information about new products, but also pays close attention to the significance and influence of news, such as substantial changes caused by a strategic move to a company. She hopes to make exclusive and unique reports on companies through in-depth interviews. Enterprise Representatives and Journalists during Idea Exchange Enterprise Representatives Communicate with Each Other Representatives from CNOOC, ImmunoVac, SK Telecom, ENN Group, HNA Tourism, China Venture Capital Association (CVCA), ZHONGPIN INC, Inspur, Club Gold and China Beijing Equity Exchange exchanged their ideas with editors and reporters over such topics as five “W”s of news, operations of print and online media, timeliness of news, operational difference between daily and weekly, requirements for enterprises and the media. The Media Coffee was rounded off with an interaction. About PR Newswire Asia’s Media Coffee For over 50 years, PR Newswire has expanded its corporate news distribution network to more than 170 countries and regions in the world. PR Newswire hosts regular Media coffees to bridge media workers with corporate PR professionals to discuss the latest developments in the communications field. PR Newswire Asia has continued this tradition since coming to China in 2002 by hosting regular media coffees in Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities, to help enterprises and organizations understand the media, as well as concept of and tools for corporate news communications. For more information on PR Newswire Asia Media Coffees, please call +86-10-58645296/5301.
PR Newswire Acquires Full Rights to Xinhua PR Newswire and Additional Xinhua Finance Businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan
BEIJING, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire today announced a definitive agreement with Xinhua Finance ("XFL", TSE Mothers: 9399 and OTC: XHFNY), under which PR Newswire has acquired Xinhua PR Newswire (XPRN), the first and largest corporate announcement distribution service in China, as well as Xinhua Finance's corporate announcement businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/36101/ XPRN was established as a marketing alliance between Xinhua Finance and PR Newswire to bring global best practices of corporate announcement distribution and corporate transparency to China. Under the terms of the original joint marketing agreement, Xinhua Finance was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of XPRN, while PR Newswire provided the distribution platform, marketing and strategic direction. The acquisition of XPRN transitions all management and operation of the corporate sponsored announcement distribution service to PR Newswire, including all employees and associated customer relationships, customers and other contracts, office space, and operational processing. All executive and senior management, including John Williams, managing director, and Yujie Chen, director, XPRN - PRC, will remain in their current positions. In conjunction with the acquisition, XPRN will be re-branded as PR Newswire Asia. The businesses' executives and senior management will remain in their current positions. In total, the combined operations employ around 50 people. "Success in China requires a mix of determination, commitment and continued flexibility in adapting to local needs and expectations. PR Newswire Asia's knowledge of the China business and media communities will enable it to continue to employ such strategies in order to meet the market's increasing maturity and demands," said Williams, who established the business in Beijing in 2002 and quickly expanded across China. "The strategy behind XPRN was simple and extremely effective -- unite Xinhua Finance's position as premier financial information service with PR Newswire's expertise and reputation as the global leader in corporate announcement distribution," said Charles Gregson, chief executive officer of PR Newswire. "In less than six years since its launch, XPRN, now PR Newswire Asia, has grown to become an essential messaging conduit in China, allowing companies, both public and private, to openly communicate their messages to investors and media in China and around the world. Today's acquisition offers a significant step forward for PR Newswire Asia and the companies it serves. Merging with PR Newswire's global operations will allow us to create opportunities to introduce new communications tools to China's business community, including broadcast and video services, ProfNet, media monitoring and EDGAR filing, while enhancing the marketing, customer service, and operational efficiencies of the entire business unit." As China's largest corporate announcement distribution service, PR Newswire Asia provides a gateway for companies to communicate with a network of more than 9,000 journalists representing some 3,000 agencies in China. Further, utilizing PR Newswire's global distribution network, PR Newswire Asia also enables companies to connect with tens of thousands of media points in 170 countries in 40 languages, as well as to over one million investors worldwide. For China-based companies already listed or planning to list on stock exchanges in the United States or elsewhere, PR Newswire Asia assists companies to ensure full compliance with mandatory disclosure requirements by delivering every announcement to the "disclosure" media designated by NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ and LSE. As of today, PR Newswire Asia has captured more than 95 percent of the ADR market in China. "PR Newswire Asia's ability to deliver corporate announcements directly to media, individual and institutional investors, and the general public in China offers companies around the world the ability to establish and reinforce their brands with an audience that is increasingly hungry for Western messaging," remarked Yujie Chen, director of PR Newswire Asia. "An important reason for our success over the past six years has been our ability to build direct, one-on-one relationships with thousands of media outlets throughout China. These media relations efforts have been crucial to broadening and deepening the reach of PR Newswire Asia as a trusted source of corporate announcements. We look forward to working with PR Newswire's global media relations division to further this success and extend PR Newswire Asia's reputation as an essential source of corporate messages in China." John Williams, Managing Director of PR Newswire Asia Yujie Chen, Director of PR Newswire Asia About PR Newswire Asia (formerly Xinhua PR Newswire) PR Newswire Asia assists companies and organizations in delivering their announcements to the media, individual and institutional investors, and the general public worldwide, with clipping, monitoring, measurement and media intelligence services. Utilizing PR Newswire's global distribution network, PR Newswire Asia can send clients' announcements to 170 countries in 40 languages. Visit http://www.prnchina.com for further information. About Xinhua Finance Limited Xinhua Finance Limited ("XFL") is a premier financial information provider and is listed on the Mothers Board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399) (OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Xinhua Finance's proprietary content platform, comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and Investor Relations, serves financial institutions, corporations and re-distributors worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com . About PR Newswire PR Newswire Association LLC ( http://www.prnewswire.com/ ) 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' announcements 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 announcements 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 Limited, a leading global business media company that serves professional commercial communities around the world. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com. About United Business Media Limited ( http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com ) United Business Media Limited (UBM) is a global media and marketing services company that informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM serves professional and commercial communities, from IT professionals to doctors, from journalists to jewelry dealers, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. UBM employs more than 6,500 people in more than 30 countries. UBM's businesses operating in the US include CMPMedica, Commonwealth Business Media, Everything Channel, PR Newswire, RISI, TechInsights, TechWeb and Think Services. UBM is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L) and has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion. SOURCE PR Newswire Asia
Xinhua PR Newswire Featured in China Daily
Xinhua PR Newswire: Getting the message across (China Daily 06/10/2008 page7) As more Chinese companies expand globally, the public relations (PR) and investor relations (IR) communities are faced with the challenge of finding the best way to communicate with foreign media and get their stories across to their target audience. John Williams, managing director of Xinhua PR Newswire (XPRN), recently discussed how the corporate information distribution service has helped thousands of Chinese companies tell their stories to the world, enlarging their influence and media exposure in different countries. A newspaper and wire service industry veteran with more than 40 years' experience, Williams has been at the forefront of many of major innovations in the PR/IR wire service industry through an intense focus on customer service and media relations. Since late 2002, when XPRN opened its first office in Beijing, Williams and his team have aimed at lending a hand to Chinese companies in communicating within China and the outside world by distributing their press releases to the media, investors and the general public. XPRN has its roots in PR Newswire (PRN), a company founded in New York City in 1954 with the belief that corporate public relations staff need a way to have their press releases delivered to all important media outlets quickly and economically. Until then, PR executives had been forced to deliver their press releases to newspaper editors by hand or dictate them over the telephone - not the most efficient means. PRN's first news circuit was limited to newspapers in New York, but it quickly spread to all other major cities across the United States. Through the years it grew to become the largest such company in the world. The sheer economy and simplicity of the service is what contributed heavily to its success. Although XPRN has been in operation for more than 50 years and the service has been well received by many global organizations, it was initially challenging to introduce the concept to the China market, said Williams. Its first year in China, 2003, was dedicated to building a strong foundation with Chinese media through hundreds of on-site visits to newspapers and thousands of telephone calls to journalists representing general purpose, business and industry publications. The concept slowly took hold as the media began to accept this new free business information source. For firms who found the wire concept confusing, the company organized training sessions, coffee meetings with the media and investor relations seminars to help improve understanding. "Education of our customers remains a daily goal," Williams said. "It includes those who pay us - PR/IR clients - and the media who receive us at no charge." Labor bears fruit The effort has paid off. Today, XPRN is quickly becoming the standard for distribution of most corporate press releases on the mainland. XPRN currently distributes corporate press releases to almost 10,000 journalists from some 3,000 media outlets in China. The Internet has also provided an enormous boost to its audience. XPRN currently assists over 300 multinationals, as well as some 600 local companies, with information distribution and monitoring. By the end of 2007, XPRN had distributed over 7,000 stories from corporations, their agents and organizations, a sharp contrast to 2004, when it handled fewer than 500 stories. Immediately following the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan, XPRN "opened its wire" and sent hundreds of press releases free of charge in support of the relief efforts. "Information is often a powerful aid in helping those in need," said XPRN director Chen Yujie. "We were extremely fortunate to be in a position to offer our services." With operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and working to expand its network each day, XPRN remains steadfast in its goal to help Chinese companies thrive through better communication with their local, national and global markets. Recent highlights April 19: Going Global Award Xinhua PR Newswire was awarded the "Chinese Enterprises Going Global" National Contribution Award as the Most Influential Intermediate Service Agency. The award was presented by Nanfang Daily Press Group, Policy Research Office of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and the China-Europe International Business School and is the first award in China to praise enterprises for their great achievements in globalization as well as service agencies that significantly contribute to helping Chinese companies go global. April 21: Multimedia News Releases Xinhua PR Newswire announced China's first multimedia solution for corporate news distribution in April. The "Multimedia News Release" makes it easy to deliver news releases in a multimedia format, blending video/audio, text, logos, photos and related documents into a dynamic HTML platform. Xinhua PR Newswire also provides production services for those companies which may need content creation. May 12: Disaster Relief In response to the devastating earthquake that hit China in May, Xinhua PR Newswire responded by offering to distribute news for those companies aiding the relief effort free of charge. The response from both domestic and international corporations and organizations was immense. XPRN distributed over 200 releases concerning the relief effort in just three days. XPRN also distributed news for free for those helping in the Myanmar relief efforts. May 26: Mobile Platforms Xinhua PR Newswire extended its distribution network to reach more than 40 million wireless Internet users in China. Through cooperating with HANDCN, a leading cell phone terminal software developer in China, all press releases including text, logos, images and other multimedia content are now directly pushed to more than 8 million smartphones across the country.
PR Newswire Launches Internet Photo Distribution Service
New Service Distributes Customers' Photos to More Than 175 Consumer and Business Web Sites, Creating the Largest Online Distribution Network for Photos in the Industry Today NEW YORK, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire, which has been delivering publication-quality photos to media for decades, today announced a new photo distribution service that places customers' photos on more than 175 Web sites, extending the reach of these images directly to consumers. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070312/NYM011 ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO ) As part of this new service, through a partnership with Times Square2 (http://www.timessquare2.com), customers will also benefit from having their photos rendered, in fifteen-second increments, on the Reuters digital billboard in Times Square, which reaches the more than 1.5 million people each day. Among the 175-plus Web sites that will render PR Newswire's customer photos as part of PR Newswire's new Internet Photo Distribution service are the Los Angeles Times, ABC Television affiliates, MarketWatch and Yahoo!. "Visual elements provide more depth to any story, and oftentimes adding a photo to a news release means the difference between the media writing a story about the news or passing on it altogether," said Dan Hennes, director of Photo Services, PR Newswire. "It's no different for consumers reading information online -- an interesting photo grabs readers' attention and draws them into a story in a way that simple text may not. We have been offering photo rendering to select consumer news sites for a number of years, and the launch of our new Internet Photo Distribution service will vastly increase their visibility by posting them on a robust network of more than 175 Web sites." PR Newswire's Internet Photo Distribution service can be added to any news release. PR Newswire also offers other photo services including national Associated Press PhotoExpress distribution, delivering customers' photos to the desktops of photo editors at newspapers, television stations and magazines nationwide through AP's premier photo delivery system, Total Photo Archive, which archives photos in NewsCom and AP digital photo archives for access by 20,000 news outlets worldwide, and Assignment Photography services that locates photographers around the world for customer photo shoots. About PR Newswie PR Newswire Association LLC (http://www.prnewswire.com) 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 11 countries and routinely sends its customers' news to outlets in 135 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 Experts(SM), eWatch(TM), MEDIAtlas(TM), Search Engine Optimization, MediaRoom, MediaSense(TM), MultiVu(TM) and U.S. Newswire, the preeminent policy newswire in the industry. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London.
