Entries on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia written collaboratively by users around the world, cite press releases from PR Newswire nearly four times as much as those from the nearest competitor, according to Quarkbase.
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More frequent use of press releases distributed by PR Newswire in online conversations builds on a recent research study that measured editorial pickup of content distributed by commercial newswire services.
"Credibility is something that is earned. Clearly, citizen journalists are confident using PR Newswire content in the same vein as professionals in mainstream media," said Dave Armon, president of PR Newswire. "In a tightening economy, ROI is being scrutinized, so maximizing visibility is critically important."
On November 3 Quarkbase, a not-for-profit mashup site consisting of more than 30 data sources and many algorithms, reported that more than 6,414 PR Newswire press releases were referenced in Wikipedia entries, compared to 1,790 for Business Wire, 687 for Marketwire and just five for Globe Newswire.
Since its creation in 2001, Wikipedia has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference Web sites, attracting at least 684 million visitors yearly. There are more than 75,000 active contributors working on more than 10 million articles in more than 250 languages.
Quarkbase also reported 40,400 blog postings of PR Newswire press releases, citing Technorati data, compared to 35,721 blog mentions of Business Wire press releases, 8,952 for Marketwire and 120 from GlobeNewswire (formerly PrimeNewswire).
In a study of traditional media pickup rates, conducted by the independent market research firm Diagnostics Plus during the second quarter of 2008 and announced Sept. 23, press releases transmitted by PR Newswire were used 55% of the time, versus Marketwire's 43% pickup rate, Business Wire's rate of 38% and a rate of 37% by GlobeNewswire.
Of those releases attracting attention by the media, the volume of coverage was highest with PR Newswire, followed by Business Wire, PrimeNewswire (now known as GlobeNewswire) and Marketwire. PR Newswire has nearly twice the pick-up frequency as PrimeNewswire and more than twice that of Marketwire.
Details about the methodology used for the study, and the statistical significance of the results, can be found at http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/34916/
About PR Newswire
PR Newswire Association LLC (http://www.prnewswire.com/) provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of corporate, government, association, labor, non-profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up-to-the-minute, full-text news developments.
Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in 14 countries and routinely sends its customers' announcements to outlets in more than 170 countries and in more than 40 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters, investors and individuals who seek breaking announcements from the source. PR Newswire's leading services include ProfNet(SM), eWatch™, MEDIAtlas™, Search Engine Optimization, MediaRoom, MediaSense™, MultiVu™, U.S. Newswire, the preeminent policy newswire in the industry, Vintage Filings, the fastest growing Edgar filing company, and Hispanic PR Wire, LatinClips and Hispanic Digital Network, the foremost Hispanic communications services. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, a leading global business media company that serves professional commercial communities around the world. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.
About United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)
United Business Media Limited (UBM) is a global media and marketing services company that informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM serves professional and commercial communities, from IT professionals to doctors, from journalists to jewelry dealers, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. UBM employs more than 6,500 people in more than 30 countries. UBM's businesses operating in the US include CMPMedica, Commonwealth Business Media, Everything Channel, PR Newswire, RISI, TechInsights, TechWeb and Think Services. UBM is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L) and has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion.
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SOURCE: PR Newswire Association LLC
CONTACT: Rachel Meranus, Vice President, Public Relations, PR Newswire,
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