Gannett Media Technologies makes announcement.

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1994--Gannett Media Technologies Inc. (GMTI) has been formed to develop and market products aimed at strengthening relationships between newspapers and their readers and advertisters, it was announced today.

In conjunction with the formation of GMTI, other key announcements were:

-- Daniel D. Zito, formerly vice president and general manager of Software Consulting Services (SCS), becomes the president and CEO of GMTI, based in Cincinnati.

-- GMTI has acquired the AdLink software package from Over-The-Line Inc. Stephen S. Burns, founder of OTL, has joined GMTI as vice president/development.

-- Lee Enterprises Inc. of Davenport, Iowa, has purchased licenses for 18 of its newspaper markets.

"We believe strongly that newspapers -- and the media in general -- face special challenges as they attempt to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers," said Gary L. Watson, president of Gannett's Newspaper Division.

"GMTI will tailor its product lines to help meet these needs and strengthen the information bridges that are required."

Watson announced the formation of GMTI today at the Paine Webber media forum in New York City.

"We're also extremely pleased," Watson said, "that an experienced executive like Dan Zito, who is well known and respected in the newspaper-related technology business, has agreed to lead the GMTI effort."

Zito said the initial response to the AdLink package has been very encouraging.

AdLink is a software package that permits local real estate firms to save time and expenses by preparing and managing their own display advertising on PC's and then transmitting composed material directly to the newspaper.

"Even before we've had the formal unveiling of GMTI and AdLink, we've seen a great amount of interest," Zito said. "We now have more than 60 newspapers nationwide committed to installing this product."

Newspapers making use of the AdLink software include The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. Installations are underway at the Davenport (Iowa) Quad City Times, Detroit Newspapers and The Des Moines Register.

Zito said GMTI will focus its efforts in three primary areas:

-- Development of new products in response to market needs and desires, such as software packages similar to AdLink for the automotive and employment classified lines of business.

-- Marketing of products developed by Gannett's Advanced Systems Laboratory and currently in use at Gannett newspapers. These include Mobile Advertising Sales System (MASS) laptop computers now installed at Gannett newspapers.

-- Development and marketing of products growing out of alliances and joint ventures with other companies such as the digital text and graphics archive developed by Gannett and Digital Collections of Hamburg, Germany. The archive now is installed at Rochester, N.Y.; Shreveport, La.; Wilmington, Del., and Des Moines, Iowa.

Zito said plans are underway for additional product introductions in early 1995.

Gannett is a nationwide news and information company that publishes 82 daily newspapers, including USA TODAY, and USA WEEKEND, a newspaper magazine. Gannett also operates 10 television stations, 11 radio stations and the largest outdoor advertising company in North America.

CONTACT: Gannett Co. Inc., Arlington

             Carleton F. Rosenburgh, 703/284-6780
             Mimi Feller, 703/284-6046 (office), 202/363-4335 (home)
             Sheila Gibbons, 703/284-6048 (office), 301/445-3231 (home)
                              or
             GMTI
             Dan Zito, 513/665-3777