Cygnus Business Media Strengthens Interactive Division; Internet Veterans Dave J. Iannone and Paul Andrews Drive Expanded Initiative.

Business Editors

COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2003

At a time when many businesses are scaling back on online investments, Cygnus Business Media, a leading diversified business-to-business media company, is breaking away from the pack by expanding its online initiatives. Since 2000, the business-to-business media leader has acquired 18 Websites and portals, successfully integrating them into its existing portfolio.

"Business-to-business customers use the web to research and in some cases purchase products and services within their specific marketplaces," says President & CEO Paul Mackler. "Adding new websites to complement our publishing and trade show portfolio, and expanding the number of products and features our sites offer to customers is all part of our targeted, integrated media strategy. Providing a more interactive relationship with advertisers is beneficial in building brand and customer loyalty as well as offering the myriad of online services we now provide to our markets."

Cygnus has tapped two leading Internet veterans to lead the expansion of Cygnus' Interactive division. Dave J. Iannone has been named Vice President of Publishing, Cygnus Interactive and will spearhead strategy, development, content, marketing and industry alliances. Dave joins Vice President of Sales Paul Andrews, who manages all sales endeavors for Cygnus Interactive and its 65 sites.

"Cygnus sees the immense capabilities the Internet has to offer advertisers and has invested in developing these opportunities," says Iannone. "Our goal is to create and expand the many avenues of possibility that rest in the Interactive division, employing not only technological advancements, but also marketing and advertising strategies."

Iannone joined Cygnus in 1998 and successfully founded and launched one of the nation's most successful business-to-business web portals - Firehouse.com. Today, it is the most visited site on the Web for the fire and emergency services community with over 500,000 unique visitors that account for more than eight million page views monthly. Iannone also led a team which recently acquired and is expanding top law enforcement portal Officer.com. Iannone was selected by the Washington Times as a leading-area Internet executive. He has been a freelance journalist and photographer for a variety of publications, including the Washington Post and Associated Press.

"We are committed to offering the most comprehensive, targeted and cost-effective B2B media programs in each of our markets," says Andrews. "Our customers are realizing greater opportunities for generating leads, branding and customer loyalty through several online options and packages. We intend to continue leveraging all of our assets - marketing our sites and portals through Cygnus' print products, networking at its tradeshows and cross promoting through other online venues within similar marketplaces. We are even developing online programs for Cygnus clients in collaboration with our Cygnus Custom Marketing division."

Andrews comes from an e-commerce and sales background, where he was regional sales manager for Real Media, a global interactive advertising network. He has also held the position of national sales manager for Bell Atlantic Electronic Commerce Services where he established strategic and business e-commerce strategies for the company's online directory, BigYellow.com. He has a graduate degree in telecommunications from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Cygnus Business Media's Interactive Division is a rapidly growing part of the $110 million B2B media company. Online page views for the company's sites totaled more than 90 million for 2002 and are projected to number over 100 million for 2003 as nearly one million unique visitors continue to visit the company's Websites and portals monthly.

Cygnus Business Media is a leading, diversified business-to-business media company with a portfolio of over 200 media products reaching five million professionals annually within 15 major markets. Its four distinct divisions - Cygnus Publishing, Cygnus Expositions, Cygnus Interactive and Cygnus Custom Marketing - provide comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for Cygnus' valued customers and clients. The company's leading business publications, trade shows, conferences, Web sites, online products and custom marketing capabilities enhance brand identity, generate sales leads, and build product awareness as they strengthen customer/client relationships.

For more information on how Cygnus Business Media can help you achieve your advertising and marketing objectives, visit www.cygnusb2b.com.