TORONTO--(Marketwire - February 29, 2008) - Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow solutions provider, has witnessed a 40 percent increase in the volume of press releases it distributed to China since January 2006. The overall Asia-Pacific volume grew 68% year-over-year in 2007. To support its growing client base targeting this highly regulated media market and other emerging markets, Marketwire formed an emerging markets division that offers a broad portfolio of distribution options to targeted geographic areas, including an exclusive network of strategic relationships with key Chinese government news services. In addition, Marketwire is sponsoring a series of educational seminars to help public and investor relations professionals better communicate with populations in emerging markets.
"China is a rising world power with an extremely complex infrastructure in a state of transition. To successfully distribute news in its government-regulated media environment requires maintaining strong government ties and keeping pace with the country's rapid growth of media outlets and high journalist turnover," said Hector Botero, Marketwire's vice president, emerging markets. "Marketwire makes that possible through its exclusive relationships with Chinese government news agencies coupled with an experienced, on-the-ground network of professionals operating out of regional offices and affiliates in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan."
Botero came to Marketwire through its acquisition of International Media Services (IMS) Companies, a leading emerging markets news distribution and media management organization; the acquisition was announced in January 2008. He was IMS' founder and president as well as the former president of Business Wire China. Botero has more than 20 years' experience directing international commerce activities in emerging markets. He leads Marketwire's growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, India, Russia and the Middle East.
"The acquisition of IMS gives Marketwire a physical presence in Greater China and is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger global investment program designed to build local infrastructure and resources in every major market worldwide," said Michael Nowlan, president and CEO of Marketwire. "Our commitment to international and emerging markets is second to none and this is very exciting news for our customers."
Marketwire's Strategic China Relationships Increase Placement Success
Marketwire's Greater China distribution reaches more than 3,000 key media outlets and journalists across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company maintains strong ties with government news agencies, financial news services and newspaper syndicates in China and Taiwan, such as:
-- Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Institute for Science
and Technology Information (ISTIC)
-- China Industry Newspaper Information Center (CINIC) - 75 associated
industry sector newspapers
-- Dozens of Asian news websites such as China Investment, NT Online and
Asia Business Center News Portal
-- Xinhua InfoLink and Xinhua Finance -China's industrial and economic
news services
Educational Programs Arm PR Professionals to Better Communicate with Emerging Market Populations
Marketwire and the Society of Professional Journalists are conducting a series of journalism education seminars throughout the US, with several events focusing on communications with emerging markets. The most recent of these, "The Asia Juggernaut and US-China News," was held February 12, 2008 in San Francisco and featured China experts Thomas B. Gold, Ling-chi Wang and Mei-Ling Sze. The discussion pointed out the difficult nature of news distribution to Greater China as it dismantles its welfare system and makes the shift to capitalism. Attendees, a mix of public and investor relations professionals representing international companies as well as area journalists, gained valuable insight into the Chinese culture and how to best navigate today's shifting China media landscape.
"As the industry's fastest-growing newswire with a focus on international growth, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure our clients' news is seen and heard in today's influential and dynamic emerging markets," said Thom Brodeur, Marketwire's senior vice president of global strategy and development. "That's why we are making acquisitions in emerging markets and investing our resources in market-leading strategic alliances and IP outside of North America and developing infrastructure such as Hector Botero and his team of specialists, who are providing invaluable expertise as we continue to grow Marketwire on a global scale."
About Marketwire
The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to IR, PR and MarCom professionals seeking top-tier news distribution, media management, multi media and monitoring solutions. Marketwire's customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation and simplicity.
Marketwire delivers its clients' news to the world's media and financial communities, fulfilling disclosure requirements in North America in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and serving as Primary Information Provider (PIP) with the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA). With a reputation for technology leadership, Marketwire offers innovative products and services -- including Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Dashboard Mobile Financial, News Dashboard coverage reports, exclusive access to networks such as the Canadian Press Wire Network, Easy IR and Easy PR workflow solutions, and more -- that help communication professionals maximize their effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and best practices. Having merged companies (Market Wire and CCNMatthews) in April 2006, and enjoying a combined history of 25 years of service, Marketwire is now majority-owned by OMERS Capital Partners, the private equity arm of one of Canada's largest pension funds. Marketwire distributes the majority of press releases issued by publicly traded companies in Canada and serves more than 8,000 clients worldwide through 17 offices on four continents. For more information, visit us at www.marketwire.com.
Contact Information: For additional information: Paolina Milana Marketwire (310) 765-3250 pmilana@marketwire.com Jamie Ernst Brodeur (210) 495-5757 jernst@brodeur.com