Platform-A Offers Canadian Advertisers and Agencies a Full Suite of Marketing Solutions Powered by the Web’s Most Advanced Advertising Technologies

TORONTO – AOL announced the launch of Platform-A in Canada, offering advertisers access to one of the largest online advertising networks with the most comprehensive suite of marketing solutions and the Web’s best ad technologies. With this launch, Platform-A clients in Canada (http://www.platform-a.ca) now have a single point of contact to purchase and manage activity across Platform-A’s multiple digital marketing channels, improving the strategic impact of online campaigns.

Platform-A Canada aligns AOL’s existing Canadian advertising operations including: Advertising.com, one of Canada’s leading ad networks; and the AOL Canada media network, which includes AOL-owned properties and a number of third-party sites such as Canadian Driver, a leading online automotive magazine. This combination positions Platform-A’s ad network as the leader in Canada with an audience of 22.5 million unique visitors per month, reaching more than 93% of the online audience in Canada.*
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Partnership Leverages Vast Financial News Sites within AOL’s MediaGlow Publishing Business to Maximize Consumer Reach

Plan Includes Targeting AOL News for the First Time

NEW YORK – AOL’s Platform-A  announced a 2009 strategic partnership with Scottrade, a leading branch-supported online investment firm that offers a full line of investment products, online trading services and market research tools to help investors take control of their financial future. This year’s partnership extends Scottrade’s Platform-A relationship to reach consumers via advertising and distribution solutions within MediaGlow’s financial-related content properties, such as AOL Money & Finance, Walletpop.com, Bloggingstocks.com, and AOL News. As part of the deal, Scottrade has also been included as a Featured Broker on AOL Money & Finance.
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NEW YORK & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Gabriels Technology Solutions, the leading private-label ecommerce technology provider and Endeca Technologies, Inc. a search and information access software company, announced the introduction of innovative search products for new media that provide a world class competitive advantage to media clients for increased site activity, higher lead generation, enhanced user experience and increased advertising revenue.

Gabriels portal search technology is based on the Endeca Information Access Platform designed to offer search simplicity with the analytical power of business intelligence. Through Endeca Search, Guided Navigation®, and Content Spotlighting capabilities, Gabriels delivers superior experience to site visitors, while offering site owners the tools needed to create contextual advertising and premium placement opportunities.
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Former Head of Global Sales at Yahoo! to Drive Platform-A’s Display Advertising Sales Across AOL’s Businesses

NEW YORK – AOL named Greg Coleman President of Platform-A as part of the company’s effort to expand display sales across its advertising and programming networks. Coleman, who has more than 25 years of sales and media experience, will lead Platform-A, the industry’s largest online advertising platform.

“Greg Coleman is perfectly suited to build on the foundation we created at Platform-A and drive branded display sales across our fast-growing MediaGlow programming network,” said Randy Falco, AOL Chairman and CEO. “Greg’s a seasoned sales pro who understands that online brand building is the next frontier in digital advertising, and that whoever can deliver marketers measurably improved branding online will be positioned for long-term success. I’m confident Greg will help us create branding solutions that leverage the strong success of MediaGlow and the upcoming launches at People Networks.”
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New Multi-Faceted Deal Expands to Include Multiple Digital Solutions

NEW YORK – AOL’s Platform-A announced a multi-faceted strategic relationship with FreeCreditReport.com®, the leading provider for online consumer credit reports, scores and monitoring. The partnership will fully leverage Platform-A’s diverse slate of advertising solutions, including deep customized content integration within AOL’s properties and a variety of broad-based campaigns across Platform-A’s networks, http://www.platform-a.com/, ensuring the ability to harness the full power of digital media advertising.

“Our new partnership with FreeCreditReport.com touches almost every advertising solution available at Platform-A. FreeCreditReport.com has given us a clear mandate – use all the tools at our disposal to help them reach a massive consumer base,” said Lynda Clarizio, President of Platform-A. “In the current economic climate, advertisers are looking for results and value. Platform-A can promise what no one else in the industry can deliver – a cost-effective way to ensure scale, targeting and measurement. We are thrilled to begin 2009 with the FreeCreditReport.com expansion and look forward to serving their needs in the coming year.”
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CHICAGO – Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SUTM) announced it has hired Jim Dyer, 46, as Vice President, Classified Advertising, Sun-Times News Group, effective today.

Mr. Dyer has more than 25 years of experience in the newspaper and online news industry. Mr. Dyer was a classified executive for several media companies, including Gannett Co. Inc., E.W. Scripps Co., and the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. He was a key player in the launch of AutoTrader.com, serving as Regional Sales Director, Advertising Operations Director and General Manager of Non Contract Classified Verticals during his tenure. Most recently, Mr. Dyer was the Eastern Region Vice President of Sales for Digital Media Communications Inc., where he was responsible for the launch of more than 80 video advertising programs across the United States. He also served as an automotive industry consultant for the Company.
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CBS is First Advertiser to Appear in the Ads That Debuted Last Week

NEW YORK – The New York Times announced that it has begun offering ad placements on its front page below the fold. CBS was the first to appear.

“This high impact placement represents an exciting new opportunity for our advertisers to reach our educated, affluent and influential readers across the country,” said Denise Warren, senior vice president and chief advertising officer for The New York Times Media Group. “In 2006 we began testing ads on some section fronts and received a very positive response from the advertising community. A strip ad on the front page of The New York Times will be highly attractive to advertisers looking for premium real estate for their campaigns.”
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Companies to Deliver Extensive Online and Print Recruitment Reach in the Greater Chicago Area via Chicago Sun-Times and 70 Suburban Newspaper Titles

CHICAGO & MAYNARD, Mass. – The Sun-Times News Group, the premier source of local news and information for the greater Chicago area and principal operating subsidiary of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SUTM), and Monster®, the leading global online career and recruitment resource and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), announced a strategic alliance and launch of co-branded Web sites to offer combined online and print services via the Chicago Sun-Times (www.suntimes.com/monster) and 70 other newspaper titles to the greater Chicago area and Northwest Indiana. The Web sites combine the service, convenience and local audience of the Sun-Times News Group’s expansive reach with the powerful tools and career resources of Monster to create a tremendous opportunity to match great companies with the most qualified candidates.
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