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Contact: Nathan Christopher Public Relations Manager (212) 872-3731 nchristopher@magazine.org |
MPA SELECTS CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR POSTAL REFORM
EFFORT
New York, N.Y. (March 23, 2000) – Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP, a nationally recognized bipartisan law and lobbying firm, and Dittus Communications, a leading public relations firm, have been selected to manage the Magazine Publishers of America’s postal reform campaign, it was announced today by Nina B. Link, President of the Magazine Publishers of America. The three-year campaign will fight the recently proposed 15% postal rate increase and aggressively pursue much-needed reform of the postal system.
"We conducted an exhaustive search to find the right partners for this effort. Preston Gates and Dittus Communications are prestigious firms and both have impressive track records for delivering results on high-profile public policy issues," said Ms. Link.
In January, the MPA Board decided to launch a comprehensive issue advocacy campaign to bring the rate hike for periodicals more in line with the rate of inflation and the more modest increases proposed for other classes of mail, as well as to reform the way the Postal Service does business.
For the last four years, Preston Gates has been among the top five lobbying firms in the nation. Preston Gates has become one of Washington, D.C.’s most successful lobbying firms by creating a bipartisan team of 29 professionals with in-depth knowledge of the legislative process, substantive expertise, and strong ties to the Leadership and key Members in the House and Senate. Some notable Preston Gates clients include Microsoft Corporation, Business Software Alliance, Delta Air Lines Inc., Maritime Cabotage Task Force, and Brown-Forman Corporation.
Bruce J. Heiman, head of Preston Gates’ infotech practice, will serve as the campaign manager. Most recently, Heiman led the successful lobbying effort for Americans for Computer Privacy (ACP), a coalition formed to seek export relief for strong encryption products. The Preston team will include: Emanuel Rouvelas, the firm’s Chairman; Jack Abramoff and former Congressman Lloyd Meeds, named by Washingtonian magazine as two of the city’s most effective lobbyists; Werner Brandt, former House Sergeant-at-Arms; and former Congressman and Ambassador David Funderburk.
Dittus Communications, which will direct the campaign’s strategic communications and advertising program, was recently ranked Washington’s 16th largest public relations agency by the Washington Business Journal. The Dittus team will be led by firm CEO & President Gloria Dittus, recently named Washington PR Woman of the Year. Dittus was an architect of the encryption export campaign for Americans for Computer Privacy (ACP), providing coalition building, public relations and advertising services. Dittus has achieved regulatory and legislative success for other notable coalitions and clients including Citigroup, Network Solutions, Kraft Foods, the Credit Union Campaign for Consumer Choice, the American Business for Legal Immigration Coalition, the R&D Tax Credit Coalition, and FM Watch (Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae).
"The proposed 15% increase is more than three times the rate of inflation, more than twice the average rate increase, and much higher than can be justified. An increase of that size punishes America’s magazine readers. Going forward, this campaign is really about the future of the postal system," said Christopher M. Little, President of Meredith Corporation Publishing Group, Vice Chairman of the MPA Board of Directors and Chairman of the MPA Government Affairs Council.
Magazine Publishers of America is the industry association for the consumer magazine business. Established in 1919, the MPA represents more than 240 domestic publishing companies with approximately 1,200 titles, more than 80 international companies and more than 100 associate service providers. Staffed by magazine industry specialists, the MPA is headquartered in New York City, with an office of government affairs in Washington, D.C.
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