BetterEditor.org Media News

SHANGHAI, China, July 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua Finance (TSE Mothers: 9399) and Market News International (MNI), a part of the news service line of Xinhua Finance, today announced the July Xinhua Finance/MNI China Business Sentiment Survey. The results of the survey show conditions stabilizing following two months of deterioration as strong production and sales levels counteract the impact of rising interest rates.

Key indexes remain firmly in positive territory in July though some did fall again in July as increasing numbers of respondents reported unchanged conditions rather than any renewed deterioration.

Strong sales-related indexes pointed to a favorable operating environment, though an increasing number of respondents complained that rising costs -- including the yuan exchange rate -- are taking their toll as fierce market competition impacts their price traction.

The monthly survey was conducted July 9-24 and comes amid rising interest rates and other measures imposed by the government to slow what some say is an overheating economy.

Since its inception in January, 2005, the survey has accurately tracked and predicted overall Chinese economic conditions, providing important intelligence ahead of government data. The survey has been especially important in indicating turnarounds in the economy, such as last summer's slowdown or the pickup in activity seen since last fall.

To receive a full version of the survey, or to find out more about Xinhua Finance and Market News International, please contact us via mni@xinhuafinance.com .

Notes to Editors:

About Xinhua Finance Limited

Xinhua Finance Limited is China's premier financial information and media service provider and is listed on the Mothers Board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399) (OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and the world, Xinhua Finance's proprietary content platform, comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and Investor Relations, serves financial institutions, corporations and re-distributors worldwide. Through its subsidiary Xinhua Finance Media Limited (NASDAQ:XFML), Xinhua Finance leverages its content across multiple distribution channels in China including television, radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor media. Founded in November 1999, Xinhua Finance is headquartered in Shanghai, with offices and news bureaus spanning 11 countries worldwide.

For more information, please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com/ .

About Market News International

Market News International (MNI), a Xinhua Finance company (www.xinhuafinance.com), is a financial news and information company dedicated to the global fixed income and foreign exchange markets. MNI joined the Xinhua Finance family in March 2004, bringing its niche expertise and extensive distribution network. Headquartered in New York, MNI has news bureaus and offices throughout the US, Europe and Asia.

With more than twenty years of history, MNI is a fully accredited news agency providing focused, timely, relevant and critical intelligence for market professionals. Its press credentials are accepted by all operations of the U.S. Government, including the White House, the Federal Reserve, both houses of Congress, all major agencies and cabinet departments, all similar government operations in the G-7 countries, as well as by supranational organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

More Information:

Xinhua Finance
Hong Kong/Shanghai

Ms. Joy Tsang
Tel: +852-3196-3983, +852-9486-4364, +86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com

Mr. Scott Zhang
Tel: +86-21-6113-5996
Email: scott.zhang@xinhuafinance.com

Taylor Rafferty (Media/IR Contact)
Japan

Mr. James Hawrylak
Tel: +81-3-5733-2621
Email: James.hawrylak@taylor-rafferty.com

United States
Mr. John Dudzinsky
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Email: John.Dudzinsky@taylor-rafferty.com

Europe
Faisal Kanth
Tel: +44-20-7614-2900
Email: Faisal.Kanth@taylor-rafferty.co.uk

Source: Xinhua Finance Limited ; Market News International

CONTACT: Ms. Joy Tsang in Hong Kong/Shanghai, +852-3196-3983,
+852-9486-4364, +86-21-6113-5999, or joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com

Web site:

http://www.xinhuafinance.com/

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Profile: Media News

Editors add new magazine and online reports for extra program focus through October

NEW YORK, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- As Pentagon planners and Congressional leaders wrangled last week over how best to fast-track production and delivery of nearly 4,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to U.S. troops in Iraq by the end of this year, Defense Technology International (DTI) magazine announced its plans for extended coverage of the MRAP program over the next three months.

The MRAP ramp-up is a tactical response to the increasingly lethal success enemy combatants in Iraq have had using roadside bombs, armor-piercing projectiles and other so-called improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against U.S. combat vehicles, particularly the Humvee. Congressional leaders have said that as many as 700 soldiers could have been saved if they had been riding in MRAPs.

DTI, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies' AVIATION WEEK, is an integrated media business dedicated to covering the interplay of defense technology, funding, operations, programs and policies. It launched in September 2005 with DTI magazine as a bi-monthly supplement to Aviation Week & Space Technology. DTI quickly established itself with a worldwide circulation of 38,000 military, government and defense industry decision-makers, defense infrastructure opinion leaders and influencers, and this year began publishing as a monthly stand-alone magazine. In addition to the magazine, the DTI portfolio includes events and web-based products and services.

From the factory to the field, DTI's extra MRAP reporting in its July/August, September and October issues will focus on technology's role in the program. Coverage will include:

-- a survey of the major MRAP systems under contract and global
competitors vying for consideration
-- a technical review of different armor and shaping technologies
-- an assessment of Pentagon program management
-- a look at manufacturing systems and challenges, including potential
roadblocks to sustaining hyper-accelerated production, and strategies
for navigating them

In addition to magazine reports, the DTI ARES Blog will feature frequent MRAP program updates at www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense. Magazines will have bonus distribution at industry events, including September's Defence Systems & Equipment International Exhibition (DSEi) in London, and the October Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, DC.

"The priority the DTI enterprise is placing on covering MRAP for the next three months reflects the urgency military and congressional leaders have put on this program, and to help sort out the technology, operations, logistics, program and systems integration challenges that lie ahead from the battlefield to the lowest tiers of the global supply chain," said DTI Publisher Gregory D. Hamilton.

For more DTI news, back issues and future events, go to www.aviationweek.com/dti

About AVIATION WEEK

AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Overhaul & Maintenance, Business & Commercial Aviation, ShowNews, International Aviation, Air Transport Observer, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group's website, AviationWeek.com, offers the industry's most reliable news, information, intelligence and analysis, and its Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) is the industry's most integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals across the entire aviation and aerospace field. The group recently launched MRO Prospector, a one-of-a-kind suite of data and tools delivered over the Internet for business development and benchmarking in maintenance, repair and overhaul. AVIATION WEEK also produces 12 major conferences and exhibitions in the MRO, defense and programs sectors. Visit www.aviationweek.com for more information.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com

Source: AVIATION WEEK

CONTACT: Joe D'Andrea
+1-212-904-3780
joseph_dandrea@aviationweek.com
Patricia Walsh
+1-212-512-3364
+1-646-673-6640
Patricia_walsh@mcgraw-hill.com

Web site:

http://www.aviationweek.com/
http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/

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Profile: Media News

Ringtones Will Include Famous Quotes From Stan

SAN DIEGO, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- At Comic-Con today, Spike TV, a division of VIACOM Inc.'s (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B) MTVN Entertainment Group, announced its first-ever original ringtone deal with Spider-Man(R)(1) co- creator and legendary comic book writer Stan Lee and POW! Entertainment, Inc. (POWN.PK). Ringtones featuring Stan's famous quotes will be available cross carrier.

Featured ringtones will include messages about your secret identity, or messages for your arch-nemesis, or sidekick, and more. Users can download Spike TV's Stan Lee ringtones and callback tones directly from their carriers.

"We are thrilled to partner with the legendary Stan Lee for the launch of his original ringtones on Spike TV mobile," said Erik Flannigan, EVP, digital media, Spike TV. "Stan has created some of the most beloved superheroes in comic book history and his genius can now be experienced in the digital arena."

Said Stan, "Wow! What a kick to be using my own quotes as ring tones for good ol' Spike TV! The gang at Spike must like to live dangerously 'cause they let me say whatever I want-- so consider this fair warning, O True Believers-- you're in for some wild and wacky verbal wonderment!"

Known to millions as the man whose Super Heroes propelled Marvel to its preeminent position in the comic book industry, Stan Lee's creations and co- creations include Spider-Man(R), The Incredible Hulk(R), X-Men(R), The Fantastic Four(R), Iron Man(R), Daredevil(R), Silver Surfer(R) and Dr. Strange(R) and hundreds of others.

POW! (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment Inc. (POWN.PK), an advanced media and entertainment company, founded by world famous comic book and motion picture icon Stan Lee, together with award winning producer Gill Champion and intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman, esq. POW!'s principals extensive backgrounds encompass the creation, production and licensing of original intellectual properties including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time (i.e. some of Stan Lee's characters have dominated the comic book genre and transcended to the big screen breaking all time box office records and grossing billions of dollars in revenues). Capitalizing on this combined expertise POW! partners with individuals and entities of entertainment's top echelon including studios and networks in the creation, licensing and distribution of new POW! character franchises including animation and live-action feature films, plus television, DVDs, video games, merchandising and related ancillary markets all of which contribute to global expansion.

Source: Spike TV

CONTACT: Aileen Budow of Spike TV, +1-212-767-3952; or Gill Champion of
POW! Entertainment, +1-310-275-9933

Web site:

http://www.spiketv.com/

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Profile: Media News

AdOn Network ranks 72nd in Entrepreneur Magazine's annual list of the fastest growing companies in America

PHOENIX, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- AdOn Network(R), a leader in providing innovative keyword-targeted advertising solutions for advertisers and publishers, has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of America's fastest growing companies in their annual "Hot 500" list published in their August, 2007 issue. AdOn Network was listed 72nd out of 500 U.S. businesses that made the final list, which was paired down from over 95,000 businesses that met their criteria.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070726/LATH163)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070726/LATH163LOGO)

"This is a tremendous accomplishment for AdOn Network and a testament to the people here that have devoted their time, effort and passion to making our company a success," said Steve Armstrong, CEO of AdOn Network. "Since the company's inception, it has been driven by an entrepreneurial spirit to create, innovate and grow a successful company from the ground up. Being listed in Entrepreneur Magazine's Hot 500 list helps validate the path we've taken over the past eight years and provides motivation for continued success."

Founded in Phoenix, AZ in 1999 with five employees, including founders Chad Little, and Ed Battle, AdOn Network now has 45 employees located in Arizona, Washington and New Jersey.

According to Entrepreneur, the Hot 500 rankings are compiled with the help of Corporate Research Board, a research organization. Entrepreneur and CRB started with CRB's database of more than 19 million U.S. businesses and considered only those businesses that met the following criteria:

-- Must have been founded no earlier than 1998 and no later than 2002
-- Company sales in 2002 must be $100,000 or greater; 2006 sales must not
exceed $1 billion
-- Must have positive job growth between 2002 and 2006
-- Must have a minimum level of sales growth or a sales growth quantifier
of 1 or higher between 2002 and 2006; the growth quantifier is a
measurement that combines percentage and absolute growth.

Only 95,000 businesses -- or 0.5 percent of the 19 million businesses -- met the above criteria. Entrepreneur then contacted the businesses with the greatest growth to confirm eligibility. To be eligible, the founder must be actively involved in the company, the company cannot be a spinoff or a division of a larger company, and company sales for 2006 must be at least $1 million. From this list, the Hot 500 was selected.

The Hot 500 article and the list can be found on the Entrepreneur Website: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2007/august/181886.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/hot500

About AdOn Network

AdOn Network is a leader in providing innovative keyword-targeted advertising solutions for advertisers and publishers, delivering over 4 billion searches and 115 million unique users per month. AdOn Network offers site-specific ROI tracking along with Behavioral, Contextual and Geo Targeting to equip advertisers with powerful performance-based tools to maximize their revenues. AdOn Network also features turnkey ASP solutions for Publishers which enable them to create, manage and distribute their own advertiser accounts. Founded in 1999, AdOn Network is a venture-backed company, based in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.adonnetwork.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070726/LATH163
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: AdOn Network

CONTACT: Kory Kredit, Director of Marketing of AdOn Network,
+1-602-797-8404, kory@adonnetwork.com

Web site:

http://www.adonnetwork.com/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/hot500

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Profile: Media News

ISI included in Gartner's review of data quality technology market

PITTSBURGH, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Systems, Inc.(ISI), a global provider of data quality and regulatory compliance solutions, today announced its inclusion in Gartner, Inc.'s "Magic Quadrant for Data Quality Tools, 2007" report. The annual review of the data quality marketplace presents Gartner's analysis of those data quality companies that meet its established guidelines.

"We believe our inclusion in this important report underscores our unique position in the enterprise data quality marketplace," said Martin Sohovich, ISI's director of data quality solutions. "ISI's deep experience in customer data matching and cleansing applications, specifically in the banking and insurance industries, and our strong support for mainframe and distributed platforms combine to offer organizations a very compelling data quality solution.

"Our products help organizations to achieve improved operations and decision-making by ensuring the quality and usefulness of data across the enterprise. Our ability to provide quality controls to customer data and other types of corporate data only works to reinforce the value of our proven solutions," concluded Sohovich.

A pioneer of the data quality technology sector, ISI has been delivering trusted solutions to organizations worldwide for nearly four decades. With a particular focus on serving the needs of large financial services firms, ISI's data quality and customer data integration solutions are designed to meet the demanding requirements of these firms' operational systems environments, where only the highest levels of accuracy and time-efficient processing are acceptable. Nearly a decade ago, ISI extended the scope of its data quality offerings to provide a specialized matching solution for more effective and reliable screening of clients and associates against regulatory sanctions lists, such as the U.S. Treasury's OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) list and other international watch lists and PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) databases. Today, ISI continues to expand and evolve its solutions to meet the changing and vital data quality, customer data integration, and regulatory compliance requirements of leading financial services institutions globally.

About the Magic Quadrant

The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2007 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties or merchantability or fitness or a particular purpose.

About Innovative Systems, Inc.

ISI's comprehensive data integration solution, the i/Lytics(R) Enterprise Data Quality Suite, comprises i/Lytics Data Profiler(TM) for data profiling and analysis; i/Lytics(R) Data Quality for customer data and master data management; and i/Lytics GLOBAL(TM), a CASS-certified address verification solution. Other ISI solutions include Fin-Scan(TM) for sanctions and PEP compliance and Synchronos(TM), a centralized master registry of customer data that ensures accurate and synchronized enterprise customer data management for improved cross-departmental business and compliance decision-making.

Since 1968, enterprise-class companies worldwide have relied on ISI's data quality software, systems integration, database solutions and customer data quality audits. ISI has set the standard for data quality management in thousands of applications in more than 30 countries. ISI maintains headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with European operations based in London. Representative offices are located in Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. The Innovative Web site is located at http://www.innovativesystems.com/ .

Trademark Notice

i/Lytics, i/Lytics Data Profiler, i/Lytics SECURE, eWatchLine and Synchronos are trademarks of Innovative Systems, Inc. All other products or company names are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070319/CLM213LOGO
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Innovative Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Kathleen Hondru, Innovative Systems, Inc., +1-412-937-8217,
khondru@innovativesystems.com

Web site:

www.innovativesystems.com

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Profile: Media News

Successful launch of online service designed to let anyone be recognized and rewarded like a money manager

NEW YORK, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Covestor, the real trade sharing service, is making significant headway toward changing the game in the $16 trillion money management industry, just two months after its public beta launch (June 5). The service, at http://www.covestor.com/, is the world's first to enable private investors to share and be rewarded for their actual investment activity.

Billed as "social investing," like Facebook for finance, Covestor already hosts more managed portfolios than professional firms such as Templeton, Vanguard, Putnam or Oppenheimer.

Perry Blacher, co-founder and Marketing Director of Covestor LLC, explains, "Today private investors have access to much the same tools, data and transaction costs as the professionals on Wall Street. We created Covestor to provide them with a place to build their reputations and be rewarded for their hard work. Our research shows there are tens of thousands of these unsung heroes managing their own money and doing a great job, and millions of others who would be keen to invest alongside them."

An institutional grade track record is created for each member. Covestor captures real trades and holdings using a secure automated link into a member's broker account. Alternatively, members can provide their transaction data manually, which Covestor checks periodically against their paper brokerage records. Both members and non-members can then track the real time investments of those who match their investment goals.

Covestor has received strong interest, particularly among the financial blogging community, with an estimated five percent of stock bloggers already using Covestor to let their readers track their live performance. Many blogs are displaying the Covestor widgets on their pages and promoting the service to their readers. Trader Mike, the sixth most popular stock blog according to Technorati Rankings, is among the leading bloggers who have promoted Covestor membership on their sites.

Robert Freedland, author of popular blog "Stock Picks Bob's Advice," comments, "As a stock blogger I find Covestor incredibly helpful in offering verification of what I purport to be my holdings, trades, and performance. My readers are now able to follow my real trades and understand my stock commentary in the context of what I am actually doing with my own money."

Covestor also recently announced plans to expand its global footprint with a strategic investment from Independent News & Media PLC (INM). INM will work with Covestor to promote the service to the media group's 100 million consumers across four continents. Although marketed in the United States since its public launch, Covestor has received applications for membership from over 35 countries.

"Professional money managers have no monopoly on successful investment strategy," notes Blacher. "Many individual investors are performing high quality research, implementing sophisticated strategies and achieving index-

beating returns. Covestor is a talent discovery business that enables you to invest alongside these brilliant people rather than in expensive funds."

Once members have built their track records, Covestor will allow them to start charging fees based on their popularity and success.

About Covestor LLC

Founded on the belief that successful investment strategy is not the sole province of money management firms, Covestor provides a unique destination for proven self-investors to share real investment decisions, gain recognition and earn fees by helping others. To ensure privacy, all data is normalized and members can choose to remain anonymous.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Covestor LLC

CONTACT: Martha Griffin for Covestor, +1-203-391-3025 or
mg@austinlawrence.com

Web site:

http://www.covestor.com/

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Profile: Media News

RALEIGH, N.C., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Italian author Robert Bernocco has amazed the literary world by publishing the world's first book written using a mobile phone. Bernocco published it on Lulu.com, the online marketplace for digital content.

Cristel Lee Leed, European Vice President at Lulu.com, says, "We live in an age when individuals are strapped for time due to work and family commitments, and this can often stifle creativity. Robert Bernocco is a great example of the type of author we often encounter on Lulu -- he has not only been creative with what he has written but also with how he has written it!"

Bernocco took advantage of his idle time while commuting to and from work by train, writing his 384-page science fiction novel, Compagni di Viaggo (Fellow Travelers is the English translation), on his Nokia 6630 phone, using the phone's T9 typing system.

By dividing his manuscript into short paragraphs, Mr. Bernocco wrote his novel in perfect Italian, not your typical text-message shorthand, and saved the paragraphs on his mobile phone. Mr. Bernocco then downloaded them onto his home computer for proofreading and editing. The book took him 17 weeks to write.

"Only a few years ago I would have struggled to find both the time and the publisher to enable me to create this book," says Bernocco. "Thanks to my Nokia and Lulu, I am now proud to be a published author."

About Lulu (www.lulu.com ): Lulu.com is the premier marketplace for new digital content on the Internet, with over 200,000 recently published titles, and more than 5,000 new titles added each week, created by people in 80 different countries. With just over 1 million registered members, Lulu is changing the world of publishing by enabling the creators of books, video, periodicals, multimedia and other content to publish their work themselves with complete editorial and copyright control. Lulu empowers these individuals and corporations to create high-quality content products to sell directly to their customers and the rest of the Lulu.com marketplace. With storefronts provided as well as other marketing assistance, creators are fully supported to profit from their work. With offices in Canada, US, and Europe, Lulu customers can reach the globe.

Robert Bernocco works in the IT industry in Piedmont, northern Italy. He lives near Cuneo, Italy with his wife and son. His book, which is a science fiction novel set in the future, can be found at: http://www.lulu.com/content/647355 .

The T9 system provides a predictive text function and can be found on many mobile phones.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Lulu.com

CONTACT: Gail Jordan of Lulu.com, +1-919-447-3290, gjordan@lulu.com; or
Andrea Cooper of LexPR Canada, +1-416-542-9140 ext 3363 for Lulu.com

Web site:

http://www.lulu.com/

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Profile: Media News

CHICAGO, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Wine Spectator, America's leading wine appreciation magazine, has given its 2007 prestigious Award of Excellence to all of the 74 Morton's steakhouses, the publication announced in its just- published August issue and on its Web site.

Wine Spectator "recognizes restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections that are well suited to their cuisine and appeal to a diverse group of wine enthusiasts."

"We are pleased that every one of our Morton's steakhouses is being honored by Wine Spectator," said Tylor Field, Vice President of Wine and Spirits for Morton's Restaurant Group. "We pride ourselves in the diversity of our wine list and the selection of producers from both domestic and international wineries."

The Award of Excellence, according to Wine Spectator, is given to restaurants whose wine lists offer a carefully chosen selection of "quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style." Additionally, the menu of restaurants that receive an Award of Excellence must offer at least 100 different wine selections. Field noted that each Morton's maintains a list of at least 200 wines, with some featuring a selection of more than 500 wines.

Morton's The Steakhouse is the largest company-owned fine-dining restaurant brand in the world. The Morton's steakhouses are located throughout the United States and in Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Hong Kong.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Morton's Restaurant Group

CONTACT: Roger Drake, Vice President-Communications & Public Relations
of Morton's Restaurant Group, +1-312-923-0030

Web site:

http://www.mortons.com/

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Profile: Media News

LAS VEGAS, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Ross C. Hack shares the tragic true story of a successful Eastern European women's swim team and the years of abuse they faced at the hands of their powerful coach in his new book, "A Swim Story" (published by AuthorHouse - http://www.authorhouse.com/).

Though the names, places and events have been changed to protect the identities of the young women involved, Hack tells the true story of a young Eastern European woman named Anna. While vacationing in Prague, she meets a man in a pub. They immediately hit it off, and she begins to tell him her story.

Drafted by a coach for a children's female swim team at the age of 7, Anna begins training. The coach, Ezra, slowly molds the girls into a world-class competitive team. The years pass, and they grow from young girls into young women with dreams for better lives.

When the coach begins to mistreat the swimmers, rumors of abuse begin to arise. The girls begin to tell each other what they have seen and experienced. Regardless of the mistreatment, they continue to excel. Many of them are even drafted for the Olympics.

Stories of the abuse soon trickle out to the families of the young women. With little justice due to the political and social structure of their country, the family members realize that vigilantism may be their only hope. The coach is attacked by unknown assailants and nearly killed. He survives, though, and the abuse continues.

The girls soon realize that the only way to escape is to leave the team and even the country. Anna escapes to Prague, where she meets the future narrator of her story. Because the coach continues to be well-respected in her native country, the writer insists on sharing her story.

"Basically this book will appeal to those who have some consciousness of justice, who are interested in seeing action taken to at least investigate and come to a conclusion on the allegations which this book implies," Hack says. "I hope this book is taken seriously by the country which Anna is from since it involves a highly prestigious sports team and coach that has represented their country in every major world class female swimming event in the 90s. Hopefully it will appeal to this country to quicken social and judicial reforms to deal with such abuse in order to make its citizens safer from sexual predators because it obviously isn't happening now."

Hack has lived in Las Vegas for 32 years. After high school graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He lived in Prague for four years where he attended University of New York/Prague and Empire State College. "A Swim Story" is his first book.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher (http://www.authorhouse.com/) for emerging, self-published (http://www.authorhouse.com/GetPublished/FAQ.aspx) authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com/.

EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Promotional Services Department
Tel: 888-728-8467
Fax: 812-961-3133
Email: pressreleases@authorhouse.com
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: AuthorHouse

CONTACT: Promotional Services Department of AuthorHouse, +1-888-728-8467,
Fax: +1-812-961-3133, pressreleases@authorhouse.com

Web site:

http://www.authorhouse.com/

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Profile: Media News

Convergent PR blends traditional PR services with new 'social media' concepts and Web-based communication techniques

LANCASTER, Pa., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- What Convergent PR means in general
* Allows convergence of tried and true PR programs with the new, more
interactive online communities
* Incorporates a variety of new online technologies and tactics, like
press release optimization, blogs, podcasts, social media press
releases, RSS and webcasts to deliver maximum benefits
* Makes the most of online relationships by leveraging the web to save
time
* Uses social media to engage audiences directly

What Convergent PR means for business-to-business marketers
* Helps business-to-business marketers get the most out of their
marketing communications budget and program
* Increases online search results for company names, brand names,
products and services using keywords in PR documents
* Drives more customers to a company's Web site for product and service
information
* Boosts brand awareness among industry "influencers" as well as trade
editors
* Helps develop one-to-one relationships with customers
* Helps position a marketer's company as an industry leader

What Godfrey brings to Convergent PR
* 30 years of PR experience in various industries
* Broad business-to-business and industrial marketing focus
* Client-side marketing and PR experience
* Extensive in-house capabilities, such as traditional PR services,
brand management, print, Web and multimedia ads, trade show support,
video for Web and conventional broadcasting, design and photography,
and technical Web 2.0 writing
* Interactive services, like Web site design and development, Flash
programming and multimedia, search engine optimization, E-mail
marketing and management tools and custom applications, including
e-commerce

QUOTES:
Corporate: Chuck Manners, vice president and partner, Godfrey:

"Convergent PR combines the tried and true with the exciting and new. This means Godfrey is continuing to practice sound, fundamental media relations and publicity programs geared to business-to-business audiences. We're also embracing certain aspects of the new 'social media' which are geared to online conversations among customers and influencers, including but not limited to traditional journalists."

Customer: Carol Fudge, marketing manager for Freudenberg Building Systems, Inc.

"The world of communication is constantly evolving. Godfrey's help in communicating our brand positioning through traditional as well as new media has been, and will continue to be, critical to our success."

Godfrey provides full-service, integrated business-to-business branding and marketing communications services. The agency offers research, brand management, advertising, public relations, digital marketing, search (SEO and SEM), media, direct marketing and analytics services.

MULTIMEDIA LINKS:

Godfrey White Paper: Convergent PR -- The Best of Both Worlds - http://godfrey.com/files/Convergent_PR_WP.pdf

Godfrey White Paper: What B2B Marketers Need to Know About Search Engine Performance - http://godfrey.com/files/Godfrey_SEO_WhitePaper.pdf

Godfrey Logo - http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1210/897901610_8bf75d44aa.jpg

Chuck Manners, executive vice president/partner, Godfrey - http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d904b3127cceb85c0c7d703a00000025100IbNGTNmzaMW

Carol Fudge, marketing manager, Freudenberg Building Systems, Inc. - http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d931b3127cce87455cdb425a00000125100IbNGTNmzaMW

Godfrey B2B Insights Podcast: Convergent Public Relations - http://www.godfrey.com/podcast/b2binsights_podcast.xml

RELATED LINKS:

To view this release in social media format, go to: http://www.prxbuilder.com/link.aspx?p=147

Godfrey Web site - Convergent Public Relations - http://godfrey.com/experience/convergent_public_relations.aspx

B2B Insights Blog - http://www.godfrey.com/blog/default.aspx

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Godfrey

CONTACT: Steve Graham, Senior PR Account Manager, Godfrey,
+1-717-393-3831, sgraham@godfrey.com

Web site:

http://www.godfrey.com/

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Profile: Media News

NEW YORK, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Help-Wanted Advertising Index -- a key measure of job offerings in major newspapers across America -- dipped one point in June. The Index now stands at 26. It was 32 one year ago.

The Conference Board is the global business research and membership organization.

In the last three months, help-wanted advertising declined in all nine U.S. regions. Largest declines occurred in the Pacific (-24.6%), East South Central (-16.4%) and Mountain (-15.4%) regions.

Says Ken Goldstein, labor economist at The Conference Board: "Business caution about the near-term prospects for the economy, and perhaps for their own businesses, may lead to a little less hiring this autumn. Already, there are signs that job advertising volume is edging a little lower -- with very slight decreases in each of the past two months. Other forward indicators of labor market activity are not much stronger than the measure based on print advertising. Online volume showed a little loss in momentum in recent months. Initial unemployment claims also have turned more flat. Finally, the JOLTS data (Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey) showed very little change through May."

Online Advertised Job Vacancies Dip in June

Total online job ads were 4,280,400 in June, a slight drop of 94,000 or 2 percent from May, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series. There were 2.8 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in June.

ABOUT THE HELP-WANTED ADVERTISING INDEX

The Conference Board surveys help-wanted print advertising volume in 51 major newspapers across the country every month. Because ad volume has proven to be sensitive to labor market conditions, this measure provides a gauge of change in the local, regional and national supply of jobs.

Latest seasonally-adjusted results follow:

June 07 May 07 April 07 June 06
National Index 26 27 29 32
Proportion of Labor Markets
With rising Want-ad Volume 35% 20% 49% 45%
Unemployment Rate 4.5% 4.5% 4.5% 4.6%

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The Conference Board

CONTACT: Ken Goldstein of The Conference Board, +1-212-339-0331

Web site:

http://www.conference-board.org/

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Profile: Media News

COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2007 edition of Electronics Recycling: A Guide to International Regulations is now available through environmental publisher Raymond Communications. The 300+ page publication discusses the current electronic waste laws and regulations in twenty-six countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, as well as Australia, plus in depth historical information.

The national interpretations of the European Union Directives (WEEE and RoHS) are explained in plain English, with details on who is affected, and which items have toxic materials restrictions. Collection organization information is included, and fee structures and electronics recovery rates are provided, when available. Plus, English-speaking contacts for most countries are included.

The report explains how Asian nations, including China, used EU legislation as a model to craft their own regulations. Cell phone recycling in Asia is also discussed. Separate sections on Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are featured.

In the U.S., six states have enacted e-waste laws and many other states are pushing for their own regulations. The report includes background and analysis of the current regulatory climate for electronics stewardship, summaries of state electronics "takeback" and related bills, and the results of major pilot collection programs at the local level.

The list price of the report is $425. For more information, visit http://www.raymond.com/promo_raymond-library/elecrep.html or call (301) 345-4237.

Raymond Communications, Inc., founded in 1991, is a College Park, MD-based publisher of newsletters and reports, as well as a producer of conferences and teleconferences, focused on recycling and other environmental laws and regulations in the United States and around the world.

Source: Raymond Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Bruce Popka, Vice President of Raymond Communications,
+1-301-345-4237

Web site:

http://www.raymond.com/

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Profile: Media News

WPT's Steve Lipscomb joins WSOP's Jeffery Pollack as keynote speakers

LAS VEGAS, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The organizers of the World Poker Congress (WPC) are thrilled to announce that Steve Lipscomb, president of the World Poker Tour, and Jeffery Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker will jointly deliver the opening keynote address at WPC 2007 on November 29 & 30 in St. Julian's, Malta. The two veterans at the helms of competing poker institutions will discuss the current state of the game and what the future has in store.

"With Steve Lipscomb and Jeffery Pollack, we will present two of the individuals most responsible for the recent poker boom," says Sue Schneider, president of River City Group, one of the organizers of the World Poker Congress. "With their unique perspective and wisdom, they will examine the global reach of the game and how it is penetrating international markets."

An award-winning producer/director of television and film, Lipscomb has directed the remarkable growth of the WPT, including the 2005 launch of the Professional Players Tour (PPT), international expansion of WPT, and the branding of the WPT with a variety of different licenses including sunglasses and apparel, poker tables and décor, artwork and much more.

As the first commissioner of the World Series of Poker, Pollack has brought a professionalism to the event it never had before. The recently completed WSOP 2007 introduced several cutting-edge innovations that have been hailed by professional players. His sense of branding was developed when he was managing director of broadcasting and new media at NASCAR Digital Entertainment. He is also the founder of the Sports Business Daily.

The World Poker Congress is the first conference to fully explore the synergies between the live and online games. The conference will feature two tracks dedicated to the different forms of the game, as well as plenary and general sessions featuring topics that appeal to each audience. Attendees will join colleagues to discuss issues such as marketing your poker room, player development, legislation and economics in Europe, staging tournaments, building a player base, business strategies for a quickly maturing industry, fraud and security, mergers and acquisitions, and much more.

"The World Poker Congress is the premier conference for the business of poker globally," says Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business and PokerBIZ magazines, the other producer of WPC. "There is clearly a synergy between online poker rooms and real world poker and the WPC examines how to capitalize on the growth of the game no matter which side of the equation your business operates."

To register, view the program or to get information on sponsorships for the World Poker Congress, go to www.worldpokercongress.com.

Source: Global Gaming Business

CONTACT: Roger Gros of Global Gaming Business, +1-609-992-5510

Web site:

http://www.worldpokercongress.com/

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Profile: Media News