INDUSTRYWEEK Refines Brand; Increases Top-Management Circulation, Integrates IW Growing Companies into IW.

Business Editors

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2000

To further emphasize its stance as the only business publication dedicated to covering the complexities of managing manufacturing firms, INDUSTRYWEEK (IW) is refining its brand and instituting several improvements to its magazine and interactive Web site.

"In today's new economy, manufacturers are focused on delivering total solutions for their customers and concentrating on building better business models," explained John Brandt, who was recently promoted to Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of IW. "Our goal is to provide more of the insight and ideas they need to better compete in this environment, both in the magazine and on IndustryWeek.com."

Among the changes that will debut on May 15:

-- Dedicated Top Management Circulation

Besides increasing circulation by 7.3%, the IW rate base of 250,000 is now comprised entirely of top manufacturing management and analysts who cover the manufacturing sector. The change gives IW a dramatically higher top manufacturing management audience than its competitors.

-- Integration of IW Growing Companies into IW

In response to the growing trend for leaders of smaller manufacturing firms to collaborate with larger counterparts to increase competitiveness, INDUSTRYWEEK is integrating IW Growing Companies into the publication as a regular bi-monthly editorial section.

"Manufacturers are more interconnected than service companies. As a result, it's more important for the leaders of all firms - large and small - to understand each other's point of view so that they can maximize the success of their entire value chain," said Brandt.

-- Increased Editorial on IndustryWeek.com

IW is dedicating additional resources to further develop its award-winning interactive Web site at www.IndustryWeek.com. The site will include more editorial, updated on a daily basis, as well as additional "online communities" for a variety of topic areas such as value-chain management and collaboration and inventory management.

-- Stronger Global Perspective

While every issue of IW will continue to showcase "best practices" accounts that illustrate the unique challenges faced by manufacturing management, IW is adopting a stronger global perspective and expanding its "Executive Briefing" section to include more international manufacturing news and analysis.

-- More Columnists

IW is also adding additional columns to its lineup, including:

          --   "Spirit at Work" by Lance Secretan, who built Manpower
               Ltd. into a $100 million enterprise.

          --   "Personal Finance" by former New York Times columnist
               Timothy Middleton.

          --   "Value Creation" by renowned author Chris Malburg, an
               expert on financially transitioning organizations for
               explosive growth.

          --   "Alliances in Today's New Economy" by management guru
               Larraine Segil.

-- Streamlined Design

In addition to more teaser lines on the cover and an expanded table of contents for easier navigation, IW is implementing a more streamlined, distinctive design throughout the book. The IW logo has also been refined.

About INDUSTRYWEEK

INDUSTRYWEEK (IW), a publication of Penton Media, Inc., and its interactive Web site at www.industryweek.com are the premier sources for global manufacturing management best practices-providing manufacturing executives and decision makers with more effective ways to lead people, implement technology, and manage business processes.

Penton Media Inc. (NYSE:PME) is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, Web sites, trade shows, and conferences. Penton serves the manufacturing, Internet/broadband, natural products/food/retail, electronics, design/engineering, management, supply chain/aviation, government/compliance, mechanical systems/construction, and leisure/hospitality markets. For more information, visit www.penton.com.