News
Detroit Auto Show Demonstrates Future Of PR Photos Is Digital
Five-Year Trend Accelerates With Media Downloading Record Numbers of Images
DALLAS (Jan. 23) - Media outlets downloaded a record number of high-resolution ready-to-publish images during the four-day press preview at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit that began Jan. 6, according to figures released this week by Wieck Media Services.
The company reported that during the four days media outlets around the world downloaded more than 40,000 automotive images from the Wieck media site and the five media sites it operates for leading automakers, an almost 50 percent increase over last year's record-breaking total of 27,000 downloads.
Though based in Dallas, Wieck manages a full service operation as part of the renowned Michelin Media Center during the world's premier auto show at Cobo Hall. "The shift to digital images has been very dramatic, and Wieck's expertise has helped us position the show and the Michelin Media Center at the front of that growth curve," said Michael Fanning, Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs for Michelin North America.
"I find the Wieck media site to be very helpful in getting both new car and historical automotive photos," said Frank Swoboda, editor of the car pages of The Washington Post. "It has made my life a lot easier."
By posting images on the Wieck media site, companies not only provide ready-to-publish images but they do so at a significant cost savings.
"In today's Web-dependent marketplace, it's really no surprise that media outlets will increasingly rely on companies like ours to provide them with ready-to-publish images," said Jim Wieck, chairman and CEO of Wieck Media Services.
"Rather than produce and distribute expensive packages of slides and use overnight services to deliver spot news photos to publications requesting artwork, companies simply post a high resolution image on the Internet that can be quickly and efficiently downloaded for publication," Wieck said.
Wieck posts images on its own media site, which has 4,000 registered media users worldwide, as well as on the media sites it manages and maintains for its clients. The media must register for a logon name and password to access images.
"We offer companies a managed, real-time distribution of their photos," said Tim Roberts, general manager for Wieck. "With one stop, images can be sent via satellite direct to media photo desks around the world, and they are posted to the company's and the Wieck web sites for retrieval from the database."
Among the companies that used the Wieck Photo DataBase at the Detroit auto show were clients American Honda Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Toyota North America.
Wieck Media
Wieck Media specializes in Web delivery of multimedia files — text, graphics, photos, audio and video — to media organizations worldwide.
Wieck utilizes Internet and Web technologies to distribute the news reports, columns, photos and graphics for The New York Times News and Syndicate Services, as well as the daily Times Digest and the daily and weekly crossword puzzles. The company also distributes the daily photo reports for Kyodo News Service, LAT Photographic in London and Newhouse News Service.
Wieck’s corporate clients include American Honda Motor Co. Inc., American Suzuki Motor Corp., AT&T, The Coca-Cola Co., DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co., General Motors, HIT Entertainment, Kmart, Pinehurst, Toyota Corporate Services, Verizon and Weber Shandwick.
Information: www.wieck.com
Kris Hoover-Kozamchak214.536.1098
Contact Wieck for more information.
