Penton to Consolidate Industry Product Coverage at Electronic Design; Group Announces Editorial Promotions.

NEW YORK -- Penton Media today announced plans to consolidate its coverage of electronics industry products news within Electronic Design([R])'s print and online products. The current EE Product News (EEPN) monthly print tabloid will be closed with the July issue and its editorial staff will be integrated into the Electronic Design editorial team to provide expanded print and online product coverage across Electronic Design, Penton's flagship electronics property. Mark David, current editor in chief of Electronic Design, will take on new responsibilities as Group Editorial Director. David will focus on new business development and new media initiatives across all of Penton's electronics properties, including Power Electronics Technology, Microwaves & RF, RF Design, Auto Electronics and Defense Electronics. Joe Desposito, EEPN's editor in chief, will become editor in chief of Electronic Design.

"These changes, reflecting the market's preference for Web delivery of product information, will allow us to provide our community with expanded product coverage, through a simplified and streamlined structure," said Bill Baumann, group publisher. "As part of this effort, we will be shifting our combined resources to new product reporting in Electronic Design, the largest circulation print publication in the electronics market, as well as increased online reporting and adding new 'hot spot' areas to our Web sites. We're delighted that Mark and Joe, two respected names in the industry, will take on larger roles and continue to work together to guide us through this transition. "

Mark David has served as editor in chief of Electronic Design for the past four years and has more than 25 years of high tech editorial and management experience. David spearheaded the launch of print and online initiatives, including the magazine's award-winning annual special issue defining and describing top industry trends for its electronic engineering readers and online database. Prior to joining Penton, David served as editor in chief of Automatic I.D. News, where he was recognized as a member of the ADC 100, the honorary society for the 100 founders of the automated data capture industry.

Joe Desposito joins Electronic Design after serving for seven years as editor in chief of EEPN, where he was instrumental in developing the brand's online properties. Prior to that, he held the position of technology editor at Electronic Design, where he covered test and measurement, communications, and consumer electronics, reporting on industry firsts in all of these areas. Before joining Electronic Design, Desposito was the editor of Weka Publishing's Modern Electronics Manual and Electronics Repair Manual, and served as one of the original engineers on the staff at PC Magazine's PC Labs.

Penton Media is one of the world's largest information providers to the global engineering market, serving the unique professional needs of today's design engineer. Penton's Electronics Group is a leading provider of in-print, online and in-person media to a global community of electronic design engineers and senior-level electronics industry influencers and executives. Its properties include Electronic Design, Electronic Design Europe([R]), Electronic Design China([R]), Power Electronics Technology([R]), Find Power Products([R]), Defense Electronics([R]), Auto Electronics([R]), Microwaves & RF([R]), and RF Design([R]).

In addition, Penton Media serves the information needs of the design engineer through its leading mechanical engineering titles, including Machine Design([R]), Medical Design([R]), Motion Systems Design([R] )and Hydraulics & Pneumatics([R]).

Penton Media, Inc. is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company's market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.