Digital Ad Lab Combines with IDEAlliance

Alliance Promotes Common Initiatives to Encourage Greater Efficiencies in Digital Advertising Workflow

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (October 29, 2002) - IDEAlliance, a publishing standards development organization, and the Digital Ad Lab (DAL), an international industry organization promoting the adoption of 100% digital ad workflow, announced that they have formed an alliance that combines their closely related expertise and initiatives to encourage greater efficiencies in the development, resolution, and dissemination of digital workflow practices for the publishing and advertising industries.

Amre Youssef, Director of Technology for Hearst Publications and Chairman of the Digital Ad Lab, said, "The Digital Ad Lab has grown from an ad hoc, grass roots organization to an international voluntary organization. This alliance that combines the Digital Ad Lab with IDEAlliance was designed to eliminate duplication of efforts and, most importantly, unites distinctive perspectives and specialties - the Digital Ad Lab with a strong grassroots effort and specialization in digital advertising, and IDEAlliance with color management and publishing workflow standards and initiatives." Nick Patrissi, Director of Market Relations and Print Media for Creo, Inc. and Vice-Chairman of the Digital Ad Lab added, " Synergy is key to success in the marketplace today. The breadth of initiatives of IDEAlliance, and its new management outlook, will provide the Digital Ad Lab the ability to grow and better serve the industry."

The mission of the new alliance of the Digital Ad Lab and IDEAlliance is to develop and promote digital best practices and standards for greater efficiencies and profitability with industry workflow. Digital Ad Lab will become a working group within IDEAlliance. Chapters of the Digital Ad Lab will be managed at the grassroots level and local events will continue to be presented at no cost.

David Steinhardt, President and CEO of IDEAlliance, said, "IDEAlliance is working cooperatively with a range of organizations that fit the IDEAlliance mission and the long-term interests of advancing the printing and publishing industry. Earlier this year, the National Magazine, Book and Film Carriers joined IDEAlliance. The addition of the Digital Ad Lab to IDEAlliance is a win-win for both organizations."

About Digital Ad Lab

Digital Ad Lab was founded in October of 1996 by NEC, Inc., RR Donnelley, Time Inc., World Color, and WAM!NET Inc. to ease the graphic arts industry's transition to digital advertising workflows. Its mission is to be a real-world proving ground for the standards and technologies that will allow the print community to reap the full benefits of digital technology. The participants in the Digital Ad Lab are professionals from advertising agencies, publishers, suppliers, printers, and manufacturers to promote the adoption of 100% digital ad workflow. Today the Digital Ad Lab is a network within IDEAlliance with chapters that focus on benchmarking, best practices, and education in file formats, digital proofing, and digital ad workflows.

About IDEAlliance

IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) is a not-for-profit membership organization. Its mission is to advance user-driven, cross-industry solutions for all publishing and content-related processes by developing standards, fostering business alliances, and identifying best practices. IDEAlliance has been a leader in information technology since 1966 (founded as Graphic Communications Association) having fostered the development and adoption of standards such as ADIS, GRACoL, ICE, JIFFI, Mail.dat, papiNet, PRISM, PROSE XML, SPACE XML, SGML, and XML. Learn more about IDEAlliance at www.idealliance.org.

Contact

David Steinhardt
703.8371066
dsteinhardt@idealliance.org