Acura to Sponsor Salon.com's Book Site and Literary Promotion

7 September 1999
Acura to Sponsor Salon.com's Book Site and Literary Promotion
        Luxury Automaker to Be Featured Throughout Fall 1999 Campaign

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 7 -- Salon.com
(http://www.salon.com), one of the Internet's leading media sites, announced today an
exclusive advertising agreement with Acura Division of American Honda Motor
Corporation.
    Under the arrangement, Acura will become the exclusive luxury automotive
sponsor of Salon's Book site (http://www.salon.com/books), featured on the Salon.com
network. The campaign runs from September 7, 1999  through February 29, 2000.
In addition, Acura will sponsor a book review contest where readers can submit
a review of a current best-seller. Salon's book editors will judge the contest
and the winning review will be published on the site.
    Additionally, the winner will be honored at the Salon Literary Evening, in
San Francisco, where guests will meet popular authors and Salon editors.
Accommodations, round-trip airfare for two, and spending money is also
included in the prize package.
    "We're excited to be partnering with Acura to promote books and literacy
on the Salon network," said Michael O'Donnell, CEO and president of Salon.com.
"The Acura brand is synonymous with quality and excellence and we feel it's a
perfect match for the experience we're providing our Salon users with this
promotion."
    Salon.com, a network of 10 original content sites and two communities, is
widely recognized as the leading books content site on the Web. In addition to
its ahead-of-the-curve book reviews, features and interviews with today's most
compelling writers, Salon.com publishes original articles by numerous best
selling authors, including Anne Lamott, Garrison Keillor, Camille Paglia, Jon
Krakauer, Pico Iyer and others. In addition, Salon.com has an exclusive online
book-selling relationship with Barnesandnoble.com.
    "Salon.com certainly draws a valuable online audience," said Walter
Schild, CEO of Genex Interactive, Acura's interactive agency of record.
"They're 'influentials' in their peer groups and the perfect match for Acura's
brand messages."
    Adds Michael O'Donnell, "We also know that 30% of our audience, or
approximately 450,000 users will buy new cars this year. By placing contextual
Acura ads throughout these sites, we hope to introduce potential buyers to
their impressive lineup of vehicles."