NAA Names GM Mediaworks Agency of the Year - Does GM Feel This Way?

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DALLAS--April 6, 2005--The Newspaper Association of America (NAA) has named General Motors Mediaworks its 2005 Advertising Agency of the Year. The award was presented here recently at the NAA's opening session of its annual Marketing Conference.

GM Mediaworks is a media services unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies that provides strategic, powerful and efficient media solutions to meet the advertising and marketing goals of its only client, General Motors. The NAA is a non-profit organization representing the $55 billion newspaper industry. NAA members account for nearly 90 percent of the daily circulation in the United States and a wide range of non-daily newspapers. The Association focuses on six key strategic priorities that collectively affect the newspaper industry: marketing, public policy, diversity, industry development, newspaper operations and readership.

The NAA singled out GM Mediaworks as an agency that has provided "consistent dedication and commitment to the newspaper advertising medium" and for demonstrating "creativity, flexibility, innovation and partnership over time."

"On behalf of both GM Mediaworks and our clients at General Motors who work hand-in-hand with us on all that we do and provide the support necessary to win such an award, we're very gratified to have the NAA recognize the time, effort, creativity and dedication our team brings to the table each and every day," said Rick Sirvaitis, CEO of GM Mediaworks, in accepting the award.

The NAA's criteria for its Advertising Agency of the Year Award includes: Successful creation and implementation of innovative programs and strategies for growing a client's business in newspapers; Consistent investment in newspaper advertising; Continual improvement and consideration of new advertising opportunities; Openness and willingness to explore new ideas; Proven track record of contribution; and a Reputation that makes the agency admired and respected by peers.

GM Mediaworks is a dedicated agency representing all General Motors' divisions in creating powerful multi-media opportunities and consolidated traditional and new buying services. GM Mediaworks serves as a resource for GM's business units and the entire roster of Divisional marketing and advertising agencies.