PR Newswire announced today that it has added Twitter handles to MEDIAtlas™, PR Newswire's industry-leading Web-based global media database.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/37052

  (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090211/NY69807 )
  (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO )

The addition of Twitter handles introduces social media contact information to MEDIAtlas, enabling public relations professionals and other users to actively engage the thousands of print reporters, online correspondents and bloggers who maintain Twitter profiles. The MEDIAtlas global database includes over 530,000 profiles of journalists and media outlets, more than 15,000 financial analysts and 2,000 industry analysts. PR Newswire has already completed the upload of Twitter handles for the first group of media contacts, and will continue to update the database as more and more journalists and media outlets establish themselves on Twitter.

"Online networks, such as Twitter, have become a valuable tool for PR professionals to interact with reporters and learn about their areas of interests, secure coverage opportunities, and most importantly, develop better relationships," said Ted Skinner, vice president, Public Relations Products, PR Newswire. "Similarly, as the world of journalism shifts from the traditional to a more amorphous style where interaction and access to information are essential to remaining competitive, Twitter has established itself as an effective source for the media to research stories, extend their readership and build their overall brand. By incorporating Twitter information into the MEDIAtlas database, PR Newswire is providing yet another way for communicators to connect with their media audience and build more personal relationships."

In addition to providing contact information for hundreds of thousands of media sources worldwide, MEDIAtlas features editorial calendars, project management, custom list-building, and "Pitching Notes" provided by Bulldog Reporter.

Skinner continued, "MEDIAtlas combines our extensive media database with distribution capabilities to help ensure that every media outlet with interest in a client's news receives it in the method they prefer. In doing so, PR Newswire delivers a broad array of Web-based tools and services that enable public relations professionals to plan and execute full communications campaigns from anywhere in the world."

Journalists and media outlets that would like their Twitter handles added to the MEDIAtlas database should contact PR Newswire at 800-387-8448 or mrg@prnewswire.com.

To follow PR Newswire on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/prnewswire. PR Newswire's Twitter feed is updated by PR Newswire's Audience Development Director Victoria Harres and includes real-time information on the media industry.

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 are able to 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, messages in text and multimedia format.

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

UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com

  Media Contact:

  Rachel Meranus
  Vice President, Public Relations
  PR Newswire
  rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com
  +1.201.360.6776

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090211/NY69807
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN15
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/37052

SOURCE: PR Newswire