Video: Innovative Changes to Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Begin Today, With Emphasis on Digital Delivery; Colorful, Compelling Newsstand Editions; E-Reader Partnership Announced

Detroit to Be Among First Metro Markets to Test Plastic Logic E-Reader Device

Changes Secure Future of Two Great Newspapers in Detroit

DETROIT, March 30 /PRNewswire/ — The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News today launched a sweeping set of strategic and innovative changes, emphasizing digital delivery of news, and introducing new, colorful, easy-to-use print editions of both newspapers available daily at nearly 18,000 locations throughout Michigan.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/detroitmedia/37651/

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081105/CLW096LOGO )

The newspapers announced that their news content will soon be available on two innovative portable electronic “e-reader” devices: A revolutionary reader produced by Plastic Logic, a Mountain View, California-based firm that will work with the Detroit Media Partnership to conduct trials in Detroit later this year, and on Amazon.com’s best-selling Kindle reader devices.

As announced yesterday, the Detroit Free Press, a National Emmy Award-winning newsroom, will begin broadcasting its content in early May on WWJ-TV, a local CBS television station.

“We absolutely believe in the future of great newspapers, but we can no longer do business as usual,” said Dave Hunke, CEO of Detroit Media Partnership and Publisher of the Detroit Free Press. “These changes allow us to focus our resources on strengthening the content we provide readers instead of investing in paper, ink and fuel. They allow us to take a big step towards exciting new relationships with readers, subscribers and advertisers.”

“What’s most exciting about this is that we can do this right here in Michigan with our state leading the way into a new era of more accessible and more immediate news and information,” Hunke said.

Changes introduced by Detroit Media Partnership include:

• Detroit intends to be one of the first test markets in the nation for the Plastic Logic e-reader, with content provided by the Free Press and The News. Plastic Logic is the developer of a groundbreaking e-reader device, differentiated by its unique and industry-leading plastic display.
• Broadcasting Detroit Free Press content on WWJ-TV in early May.
• Seven-day access to electronic editions, exact copies of each day’s printed newspaper, including all adverting circulars, for subscribers only.
• An extensive outreach program to reach senior citizens and others who might potentially be left behind in the new emphasis on digital delivery. This includes offering classes in basic computer use and accessing the electronic editions, and expanding the availability of single copy sales at senior centers and senior living communities.

The newspaper industry faces historic challenges as it attempts to transform itself in this new digital age. Last December, Detroit Media Partnership announced significant and innovative changes that clearly demonstrated the company’s determination to take charge of the future and redefine success. These bold steps expand digital information channels, preserve two award-winning newspapers and continue the sale of printed editions every day at newsstands, with home delivery on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

“We understand that this departure from daily home delivery is upsetting for many readers, but it is simply no longer economically realistic for us to do that. The core of any business is its customer base and it is our hope that folks see this as a new beginning and a new era in journalism,” Hunke said.

The new venture with Plastic Logic was announced by Hunke today along with Plastic Logic CEO, Richard Archuleta. Plastic Logic is the developer of a next-generation electronic reader that features a large, thin, lightweight and robust device that is about the size of an 8.5″ x 11″ pad of paper, and weighs less than many magazines. The Plastic Logic device uses industry-leading, flexible plastic electronics and wireless access to download books, magazines, newspapers, as well as Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents, and Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

“Our mission is to revolutionize the way people acquire, organize and consume information,” said Plastic Logic CEO Richard Archuleta. “We are thrilled to be working with the Detroit Media Partnership on this launch and to be part of the transformation taking place in Detroit.”

Detroit will be among the first markets in the nation to test content delivery of the Plastic Logic device, with a leasing arrangement designed to make the devices easy to acquire by a large number of consumers.

Detroit Media Partnership, L.P. manages the business functions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. As the largest newspapers in Michigan, with two of the most visited Web sites in the market, the Free Press and The News combine to reach a weekly audience of 2.1 million people; 56% of adults in this market see our products.* Detroit Media Partnership is also the advertising sales agent for the following suburban Detroit publications: Observer & Eccentric and Mirror Newspapers, Novi News, Milford Times, Northville Record, South Lyon Herald and Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. Gannett Co., Inc., owner of the Free Press, is the general partner in DMP; MediaNews Group, owner of The Detroit News, is the limited partner.

*SOURCE: 2008 Scarborough Report – August 2006 – July 2007 – Detroit DMA

SOURCE Detroit Media Partnership, L.P.