Publishers Join Printers In XML Effort (XPP)

June 30, 2000.

Several leading printing and publishing companies have jointly agreed to test electronic formats for communications between publishers and printers. The initial members of the team include publishing companies Meredith Corporation, The New York Times Company Magazine Group and The Reader's Digest Association. Printing company members include Quad/Graphics, Quebecor World and R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company. In addition, CDS Fulfillment is participating to ensure compatibility with list management and postal requirements.

The team is currently evaluating XPP, which stands for "XML for Publishers and Printers," as a powerful and contemporary tool to facilitate publisher-to-printer technical data transfer. XML is the abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language, considered the premier emerging protocol for Internet-based transactions. During the initial proof-of-concept phase, spanning 90 days, the team will attempt to demonstrate that its proposed protocol can precisely convey the regional, demographic and production requirements of complex consumer magazines, catalogs and other printed products.

When its preliminary work is complete, the team intends to share its findings with other interested parties with the goal of developing open standards for the industry.

For more information on XML for Publishers and Printers, contact:

Karen Chivaro, Meredith Corporation: (515) 284-3000 Jeffrey Thomas, Reader's Digest Association: (914) 244-7692 or jeffrey_thomas@readersdigest.com Ron Nash, Quad/Graphics: (414) 566-6230 or ron@qgraph.com Claire Lanctot, Quebecor World (514) 931-6521 or lanctot.claire@quebecor.com Frank Montague, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company: (630) 322-6772 or frank.montague@rrd.com

Meredith Corporation (www.meredith.com) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. Meredith publishes 20 subscription magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies' Home Journal, and more than 100 special interest publications. Meredith owns 12 television stations - located in fast-growing markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Portland and Las Vegas - and produces original television programming based on its strong brands. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence, with 26 Web sites and branded anchor tenant positions on America Online. The company employs more than 2,500 people.

The New York Times Company Magazine Group is a subsidiary of The New York Times Company (www.newyorktimes.com). Headquartered in Trumbull, Conn., The Magazine Group publishes Golf Digest, the largest golf publication in the world; Golf World, the world's leading weekly golf publication; and Golf World Business, the largest golf business publication in the field. The New York Times Company is a diversified media company including newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and electronic information and publishing. The company had 1999 revenues of $3.1 billion.

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (www.readersdigest.com) is a global publisher and direct marketer of products that inform, enrich, entertain and inspire people of all ages and all cultures around the world. Worldwide revenues were $2.5 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. Global headquarters are located at Pleasantville, New York.

Quad/Graphics (www.qg.com) is the largest privately held printer of magazines, catalogs, books and other commercial products in the world. It is an industry leader in integrating equipment, technology and systems across all operating divisions in all plants for the purpose of reducing cycle times. Its long-standing integration initiative includes a seamless transfer of information from publishers and catalogers directly to Quad/Graphics' 22 print-production facilities on three continents. Constant growth over the past 29 years -- mostly through internal expansion -- has resulted in a company with the most modern plants, equipment and capabilities. Globally, Quad/Graphics employs more than 13,000 people. Sales exceed $2 billion annually.

Quebecor World Inc. (www.quebecorworld.com) is the largest commercial print media services company in the world. The company is a leader in most of its major product categories, which include magazines, inserts and circulars, books, catalogs, specialty printing and direct mail, directories, digital pre-media, logistics, mail list technologies and other value added services. The company has over 40,000 employees working in more than 160 printing and related facilities in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and India. 1999 pro forma revenues were $6.5 billion.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (www.rrdonnelley.com) is a leading printer, communications services and logistics company, offering a full range of integrated service solutions to help publishers, merchandisers, financial and health care companies deliver communications to their customers. R.R. Donnelley's end-to-end solutions include pre-media, content management, printing, Internet and logistics services. The company's 34,000 employees serve customers in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. R.R. Donnelley had $5.2 billion in revenues in 1999.

CONTACT:

Meredith Corporation: Karen Chivaro, 515/284-3000

Reader's Digest Association Jeffrey Thomas, 914/244-7692 jeffrey_thomas@readersdigest.com

Quad/Graphics Ron Nash, 414/566-6230 ron@qgraph.com

Quebecor World Claire Lanctot, 514/931-6521 lanctot.claire@quebecor.com

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company: Frank Montague, 630/322-6772 frank.montague@rrd.com

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.

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In addition, CDS Fulfillment is participating to ensure compatibility with list management and postal requirements. The team is currently evaluating XPP, which stands for "XML for Publishers and Printers," as a powerful and contemporary tool to facilitate publisher-to-printer technical data transfer. XML is the abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language, considered the premier emerging protocol for Internet-based transactions. During the initial proof-of-concept phase, spanning 90 days, the team will attempt to demonstrate that its proposed protocol can precisely convey the regional, demographic and production requirements of complex consumer magazines, catalogs and other printed products. When its preliminary work is complete, the team intends to share its findings with other interested parties with the goal of developing open standards for the industry. For more information on XML for Publishers and Printers, contact: Karen Chivaro, Meredith Corporation: (515) 284-3000 Jeffrey Thomas, Reader's Digest Association: (914) 244-7692 or jeffrey_thomas@readersdigest.com Ron Nash, Quad/Graphics: (414) 566-6230 or ron@qgraph.com Claire Lanctot, Quebecor World (514) 931-6521 or lanctot.claire@quebecor.com Frank Montague, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company: (630) 322-6772 or frank.montague@rrd.com Meredith Corporation (www.meredith.com) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. Meredith publishes 20 subscription magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies' Home Journal, and more than 100 special interest publications. Meredith owns 12 television stations - located in fast-growing markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Portland and Las Vegas - and produces original television programming based on its strong brands. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence, with 26 Web sites and branded anchor tenant positions on America Online. The company employs more than 2,500 people. The New York Times Company Magazine Group is a subsidiary of The New York Times Company (www.newyorktimes.com). Headquartered in Trumbull, Conn., The Magazine Group publishes Golf Digest, the largest golf publication in the world; Golf World, the world's leading weekly golf publication; and Golf World Business, the largest golf business publication in the field. The New York Times Company is a diversified media company including newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and electronic information and publishing. The company had 1999 revenues of $3.1 billion. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (www.readersdigest.com) is a global publisher and direct marketer of products that inform, enrich, entertain and inspire people of all ages and all cultures around the world. Worldwide revenues were $2.5 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. Global headquarters are located at Pleasantville, New York. Quad/Graphics (www.qg.com) is the largest privately held printer of magazines, catalogs, books and other commercial products in the world. It is an industry leader in integrating equipment, technology and systems across all operating divisions in all plants for the purpose of reducing cycle times. Its long-standing integration initiative includes a seamless transfer of information from publishers and catalogers directly to Quad/Graphics' 22 print-production facilities on three continents. Constant growth over the past 29 years -- mostly through internal expansion -- has resulted in a company with the most modern plants, equipment and capabilities. Globally, Quad/Graphics employs more than 13,000 people. Sales exceed $2 billion annually. Quebecor World Inc. (www.quebecorworld.com) is the largest commercial print media services company in the world. The company is a leader in most of its major product categories, which include magazines, inserts and circulars, books, catalogs, specialty printing and direct mail, directories, digital pre-media, logistics, mail list technologies and other value added services. The company has over 40,000 employees working in more than 160 printing and related facilities in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and India. 1999 pro forma revenues were $6.5 billion. R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (www.rrdonnelley.com) is a leading printer, communications services and logistics company, offering a full range of integrated service solutions to help publishers, merchandisers, financial and health care companies deliver communications to their customers. R.R. Donnelley's end-to-end solutions include pre-media, content management, printing, Internet and logistics services. The company's 34,000 employees serve customers in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. R.R. Donnelley had $5.2 billion in revenues in 1999. CONTACT: Meredith Corporation: Karen Chivaro, 515/284-3000 OR Reader's Digest Association Jeffrey Thomas, 914/244-7692 jeffrey_thomas@readersdigest.com OR Quad/Graphics Ron Nash, 414/566-6230 ron@qgraph.com OR Quebecor World Claire Lanctot, 514/931-6521 lanctot.claire@quebecor.com OR R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company: Frank Montague, 630/322-6772 frank.montague@rrd.com Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.