ECONOMY

Ten European publishers’ online network

NEW YORK – The Online Publishers Association (OPA) announced yesterday that 10 leading European publishers have come together to form OPA Europe, an extension of the association. Founding members of OPA Europe are CNET Networks (Europe), Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso (Italy), Group Financial Times (Great Britain and France), IDM/La Vanguardia Digital (Spain), International Herald Tribune (Europe), Kathimerini (Greece), Le Monde interactif (France), Le Temps (Switzerland), Prisacom/El Pais (Spain) and Spiegel Online (Germany). «Many of the challenges for quality online content providers transcend international borders,» said Michael Zimbalist, executive director of the US-based OPA. «We look forward to extending the mission of OPA through the formation of OPA Europe.» Established in June 2001 by some of the Internet’s leading content brands, OPA is an industry trade organization representing high-quality online publishers throughout the USA. Through credible research and ongoing communications, OPA seeks to establish and promote the Internet as an effective advertising medium for marketers and a sustainable media business for publishers, thereby ensuring the continued availability of quality content to serve the public good. Martin Nisenholtz, chairman of the OPA Board in the USA, said: «The quality of OPA Europe’s founding members is a testament to the commitment of the European community to creating a unified voice and a sustainable business for quality content publishers internationally. We look forward to sharing our growing body of research with our colleagues in OPA Europe.» Like its US counterpart, OPA Europe will focus its efforts on enhancing the business climate for quality publishers by producing credible research into online advertising and media consumption, benchmarking, sharing best practices with one another. Bruno Patino, CEO of Le Monde interactif, was elected president of the OPA Europe Board. Mathias Muller von Blumencron, managing editor at Spiegel Online, will serve as vice president. Didier Brun, senior executive at the International Herald Tribune, will serve as secretary-general, and Julien Jacob, managing director of CNET Networks France, will serve as treasurer. The Online Publishers Association and OPA Europe will share joint Board representation. For more information, contact Helene Fromen (fromen@lemonde. fr) or visit the OPA website (www. online-publishers. org).

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