THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY BROADCAST GROUP AND WORLDNOW POWER NATIONAL ONLINE CHAT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE
New York, NY. – February 26, 2002 – The New York Times Company Broadcast Group and WorldNow, the leading provider of technology and revenue solutions for local news and information companies, leveraged the boundary-less nature of the Internet and the power of a shared Web technology platform to host an online chat simultaneously across the group’s eight television station Web sites on Tuesday, February 19, with Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of White House Communications, Mr. Jim Wilkinson. According to Jimmy Orr, a spokesman for The White House, “ This was the first time the White House has participated in a local television group chat and it is a good way to allow many people in different sections of the country to ask questions.”
What made this chat different? Each participant logged in through his or her local television station’s Web site in a seamless experience which offered them a localized presentation while allowing the speaker to address audiences in eight different cities. “The opportunity to l everage the reach of our eight television stations and Web sites in a unique chat experience with The White House is the type of public service our television stations are committed to,” said Christine Di Stadio, VP of Marketing and New Media for The New York Times Company Broadcast Group. The Broadcast Group includes WREG in Memphis, Tennessee, KFOR in Oklahoma City, KFSM in Fort Smith, Arkansas, WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, WHNT in Huntsville, Alabama, WQAD in Moline, Illinois, WNEP in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pennsylvania, and WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Broadcast Group took advantage of both on-air and online promotional opportunities in order to raise awareness for the chat and encourage user participation. The online chat lasted 30 minutes and had more than 80 participants for most of its duration. According to Orr, “We found the experience to be great. The participants were well informed and asked solid questions. We look forward to participating in future such activities.”
WorldNow and the New York Times Company Broadcast Group explained today how their partnership made the chat possible. Because the stations in the group use one Internet platform, they were able to leverage the power of their entire group to attract a high-level speaker--while still easily providing a localized experience for participants. And because the WorldNow platform allows stations to share content, one person could post information about the chat, and links to the chat, across all the sites simultaneously.
Wilkinson, who currently manages the Coalition Information Center, was on hand to answer questions regarding how the President is managing the war. According to Orr, “ The Internet plays a very important role in our communications strategy. Not only does the White House have a full-time team that works on nothing but the Web site, but also a spokesman for the President who works exclusively with the high-tech and Internet press. We have an Internet team that focuses specifically on carrying out the President's message in the online world. We recognize the importance of the Internet and will continue to be a strong participant and leader online.”
“The White House chat was a truly innovative use of our tool and shared platform, and exemplary of the power of our Network” said Gary Gannaway, Chairman and CEO of WorldNow. “We are thrilled to see our partners leveraging our technology platform in such unique ways. Furthermore, the high traffic levels generated by the chat, derived from both on-air and online promotion, are clear indicators of the power of the TV/Web convergence play.”
About The New York Times Company Broadcast Group
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2001 revenues of $3.0 billion, publishes The New York Times, The Boston Globe and 16 other newspapers; owns eight network-affiliated television stations and two New York radio stations; and has more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. In 2002 the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's list of America's Most Admired Companies. Among all 530 companies on the list, the Company ranked No. 1 in quality of products/services and No. 1 in social responsibility. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.
About WorldNow
WorldNow is the leading provider of Internet technology and revenue solutions for local news and information companies. Through its exclusive partnerships with over 120 local television stations, WorldNow has built the largest network of local news and information destinations in the world. WorldNow builds and supports an integrated, cost-effective software solution that diminishes the technological barriers to entry. This technology solution, combined with WorldNow’s comprehensive revenue programs, consulting services and on-going customer support, enables broadcasters to establish superior Internet businesses that grow their audience, enhance their brand and drive new profits. WorldNow’s singular vision is to enable local broadcasters to easily deliver targeted, branded information to anyone, anywhere, anytime. More information is available at the award-winning Web site www.worldnow.com .
