Microsoft and censhare to Sponsor Cross-Media Publishing Program

Alexandria, VA – January 6, 2010- IDEAlliance today announces strong industry support for its new education program. This unique professional certification program is designed to equip the new generation of eMedia professionals. Program curriculum and registration information can be found at http://www.emediapros.org.

As publishers, advertisers and brand owners strive to keep pace with the shifting publishing and media markets, the question of cross-media content delivery has moved from the theoretical to the urgently practical. Companies who rely on print-centric workflows have spent (some would say wasted) millions of dollars on content migration plans for Web, interactive and mobile publishing channels. Publishers are joining forces to identify technologies and standards upon which to base workflows that can carry their publications beyond print to the next generation of digital delivery platforms. Success depends on developing understanding and setting viable new eMedia strategies!

To help industry professionals make the transition more effective cross-media workflows and content delivery, IDEAlliance has been conducting an ongoing publishers “think tank” over the past 2 years. Away from consultants and vendors, key strategists representing IDEAlliance publisher members have been tackling challenges and setting a course for the future of publishing. Based on this industry input, IDEAlliance has designed a unique technical training program to provide survival skills for the next generation of publishers.

According to Dianne Kennedy, VP of Information and Media Technologies of IDEAlliance, “Over the past six months, with the help of publishing strategists and leading industry consultants, we have designed a truly unique training program to equip a new generation of eMedia Professionals. Our new eLearning program is designed for group or team leaders, senior-level production staff, content managers and media IT staff of corporations, publishers and media companies. The goal is to enable our participants to design, specify and work with the systems and technologies essential to content publishing across print and electronic media channels. ”

Beginning in February 2010, IDEAlliance will present a new, high-level training program: eMedia Professional Certification. The online program will be taught by recognized experts in cross-media strategy, XML tools, content management, publishing standards, DAM and many related fields. Instructors include David Zwang, Bill Rosenblatt, Bill Trippe, Linda Burman, John Parsons, Dale Waldt and Victoria McCargar.

The program’s Webinar format includes virtual classroom instruction, vendor panels, case studies and team projects based on actual cross-media publishing challenges. Among the 23 course modules, topics include:

·         The Publishing Asset Lifecycle: Making Wise eMedia Business Decisions

·         IT For Publishers

·         Content Standards And Specifications

·         XML Under The Hood: What Everyone Needs To Know

·         Metadata and the Challenges of Digital Content Management

According to David Steinhardt, President and CEO of IDEAlliance, “We are excited that four major technology vendors in the United States and Europe are supporting this new program with their sponsorship. In December, Microsoft and censhare joined Adobe Systems and Quark in their sponsorship of the eMedia Professional Certification Program. Sponsors believe that this program is a positive step towards understanding -- and profiting from -- emerging digital standards and technologies."

About our Sponsors

The IDEAlliance eMedia Professional Program is sponsored by:

·         Adobe Systems:Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information—anytime, anywhere and through any medium. See www.adobe.com.

·         censhare:censhare is a leading solution provider for the comprehensive information and process management of modern corporations and media companies. censhare pioneered genuine single source publishing and is regarded as an innovation leader in the area of comprehensive communication solutions. censhare’s vision is to “Change the way you work.” See www.censhare.co.uk.

·         Microsoft Corporation:Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. See www.microsoft.com.

·         Quark:Nearly 20 years ago, Quark led the revolution in desktop publishing. Today, Quark is revolutionizing publishing again by helping customers automate their publishing process to deliver accurate, relevant, and attractive communications anywhere. See www.quark.com.

About IDEAlliance

IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) is a not-for-profit membership organization. IDEAlliance advances core technology to develop standards and best practices to enhance efficiency and speed information across the end-to-end digital media supply chain - creation, production, management, and delivery of knowledge-based multimedia content - digitally and in print.  IDEAlliance members represent a unique convergence of the leading brand owners, agencies, publishers, printers, materials suppliers and solution providers. IDEAlliance provides a user-driven, cross-industry, and open environment in which its members can strategize, innovate, standardize, and implement solutions to real business challenges in eMedia-based publishing. Learn more about IDEAlliance at www.idealliance.org.

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