ADDISON, Texas, July 11, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has launched a Web-based Digital Newsroom to provide the news media with easy access and instantaneous downloads of company information and graphic materials.
The sites -- www.hondanews.com and www.acuranews.com -- are hosted, managed and maintained by Wieck Media Services, a 10-year-old database company that specializes in Web distribution solutions for media companies and corporate media departments.
"We recognize that the media increasingly need immediate and efficient access to information and images to support their stories," said Kurt Antonius, senior manager of public relations for American Honda. "The Honda and Acura Digital Newsroom provides our media clients with a broad base of information on the company and its products in a functional and efficient Web-based environment.
"Journalists visiting the site have access to detailed corporate and product background including pricing, sales history and complete technical details, along with an ever-increasing gallery of high-resolution product photography," said Antonius. "With Wieck as our partner, we have developed a Web site that speaks to the core needs of our media clients."
The new site features a home page designed to give editors immediate access to the most critical information, including "What's Hot" and "Latest News" sections, and detailed corporate background, Honda and Acura product information, Honda Racing activities and environmental news. Members of the media may also fill out an on-line registration form to receive password access to high-resolution photography and graphics and other special access features.
Since 1995, Wieck has designed media Web sites and Web links to image databases for clients from several industries, although the automotive industry has taken the lead in delivering print-ready digital images.
Wieck provided the design and programming for the Honda site, which features quick access, search and download capabilities for the media. It also designed, manages and maintains the database for the Honda media files.
"As former reporters, photographers and editors, we have a keen understanding of the needs of media," said Jim Wieck, chairman & CEO of the company. "We know from talking to editors and reporters that services such as ours are becoming the 'go to' sites on the Web."
About Wieck Media Services
Wieck Media Services specializes in database storage and Web distribution of multi-media materials for corporate media relations departments and news organizations.
Within six months of its founding in 1991, the company was processing and distributing digital images through a bulletin board system and then moved to Web distribution in the mid-1990s.
Wieck, which designs, manages and maintains corporate media Web sites, processes files to formats that conform to international publishing standards and then loads them into its databases. Members of the media have free access to the databases through the various Web sites, including Wieck's own media site, where they can preview files online and download them without charge.
Wieck's clients include a "Who's Who" of media and Fortune 500 companies, including Agence France-Presse, American Honda Motor Corp., Anheuser-Busch Cos., AT&T, The Coca-Cola Co., DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Hearst News Service, The New York Times Newspaper Group, The New York Times Syndicate and News Services, Newsmakers, and Toyota Corporate Services.
For more information about Wieck Media Services, please visit www.wieck.com. Photos for media use are available at the Wieck Media Web site.