[0] Symposium Corporation Reports First Quarter Operating Earnings of $1.2 Million On Strong Revenues.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2000

Symposium Corporation (OTC BB: SYPM), which operates one of the nation's leading magazine subscription agencies, Media Outsourcing ("MOS"), and which is in the process of establishing a uniquely cost-effective on-line discount buying club Web site, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2000.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2000, the Company reported revenues of $12.7 Million and, excluding non-cash charges, net income was $1.2 Million, or $0.08 per common share. The non-cash charges amounted to $23.6 Million, or $1.47 per common share resulting in a net loss of $22.4 Million, or $1.39 per common share. These non-cash charges were the result of deemed dividends to preferred shareholders, non-cash interest charges and warrants issued to consultants.

The Company also reported that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and before non-cash charges (as noted above) was $1.9 Million.

Symposium reported that the strong revenues and income were generated from MOS from the date of its acquisition, January 28, 2000. From the acquisition date through March 31, 2000, MOS reported pre-tax income of $1.7 Million and EBITDA of $2.2 Million.

There are no comparable results for the 1999 quarter since Symposium's primary operating subsidiary, Media Outsourcing, Inc., did not begin operations until January 28, 2000 when it acquired the assets of Direct Sales International, LP.

In announcing the results, Ronald Altbach, Chief Executive Officer of Symposium, said, "We are pleased with the first quarter results, considering they represent primarily only two full months of MOS's operations. New magazine subscription orders for February and March were 28 percent ahead of the same period in 1999, while enrollments of new members in our off-line Buyers Club, which we offer in partnership with Memberworks, increased over six-fold from the same period in 1999."

Mr. Altbach added, "We should also point out that the non-cash charges mask the excellent results of MOS under our management. For example, we have strengthened collection procedures for MOS and are already collecting a higher percentage of consumer receivables."

Mr. Altbach concluded, "We believe our accomplishments since the beginning of 2000 have been significant. We completed the acquisition of DSI, developed and are implementing the strategy for an on-line discount buying club. We have established an alliance with Netmarket, recruited two important Board members, and we have identified several profitable direct marketing companies as potential acquisition candidates. We look forward to a rewarding first year of real operations."

About Symposium Corporation:

With headquarters in New York City, Symposium Corporation owns and operates Media Outsourcing, Inc. (formerly Direct Sales International, "DSI"), one of the nation's leading magazine subscription agencies. It has entered into an agreement with Netmarket Group Inc. ("NGI"), an independent company created by Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), to launch an on-line discount buying club Web site. It currently contacts and retains the names and important information on more than ten million persons annually. Using attractive special offers, Symposium expects, at very little extra cost, to attract large numbers of these persons to its on-line discount buying club to complete e-commerce transactions.

Cautionary Statement. Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations and releases. Symposium intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created hereby. Among other things, the forward-looking statements regard Symposium's acquisition activities, earnings, liquidity, financial condition, and certain operational matters. Words or phrases denoting the anticipated results of future events, such as "anticipate," "does not anticipate," "should help to," "believe," "estimate," "is positioned," "expects," "may," "will," "is expected," "should," "continue," and similar expressions that denote uncertainty, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Symposium's actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such " forward-looking statements:" (1) as a result of factors over which Symposium has no control, including the strength of domestic and foreign economies, sales growth, competition, and certain cost increases; or (2) if the factors on which Symposium's conclusions are based do not conform to its expectations.

This press release and prior releases are available on the KCSA Public Relations Worldwide web site at www.kcsa.com as well as the company web site at www.symposiumcorp.com.

                         Symposium Corporation
                            Financial Table
               For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2000
                ($ In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)



Operating Results:
Revenues                                             $    12,686
Direct costs and expenses                                  9,532
                                                     -----------

Gross Profit                                               3,154

Expenses and other income:
     Operating expenses                                    1,518
     Non-cash expenses                                     1,615
     Interest expense                                        437
     Non-cash interest expense                             1,672
     Other income                                           (127)
                                                     ------------
Total Expenses                                            (5,115)

Net loss to common stockholders                           (1,961)

Preferred dividends                                       20,442
Net loss to common stockholders                          (22,403)
                                                     ============
Loss per common share                                $     (1.39)
                                                     ============

Weighted average shares
  outstanding                                             16,090
                                                     ============


Balance Sheet Data:
(as of 3/31/00)

     Total assets                                        $36,503

     Stockholders' equity                                $ 6,505