Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore & São Paulo - -  Feb. 7, 2011 – The MMA (Mobile Marketing Association) and Tribune Company (www.tribune.com), one of the United States’ leading media companies operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing, and digital media, today announced the company has joined the MMA as a Premium Member. Launched in November 2009, MMA’s Premium Membership is the highest-tier membership for companies wishing to establish an advanced global leadership position across the Mobile Marketing Industry. MMA Premium Members currently include Alcatel-Lucent, Microsoft Advertising and The Coca-Cola Company.

 

As a Premium Member, Tribune Company Co-President and Los Angeles Times Publisher and CEO Eddy Hartenstein, will be appointed as an honorary member to the MMA Global Board. The MMA also announced today the creation of its new Mobile Publishing Committee, and the appointment of Tribune Company as its chair.  The committee is open to all MMA members. Initial goals include:

“We are thrilled to welcome Tribune Company as a Premium Member of the MMA,” said Greg Stuart, MMA CEO. “Tribune’s commitment to helping shape the future of the mobile channel will benefit the entire ecosystem and we look forward to their leadership both at the Board and Committee levels.”

“The Tribune Company is deeply committed to determining how best to harness the possibilities the mobile media industry offers,” said Hartenstein. “Joining the MMA ensures we can collaboratively advance development of mobile technology, business models, emerging content distribution channels and industry standards, with a keen eye on raising the awareness for and value of mobile marketing.”

 

The Premium Membership tier brings together “market-making” companies with the scale, scope, commitment and resources to effect genuine change benefiting the worldwide mobile marketing industry. These companies provide leadership by accelerating innovation, removing critical industry roadblocks and expanding industry awareness regarding the benefits of mobile marketing. Premium Members commit themselves to a long term concerted and collaborative effort through the MMA to help build the industry. 

 

MMA also announced that Andy Vogel, Los Angeles Times Vice President of Emerging Media, will represent the Tribune Company on the MMA North American Board.

 

TRIBUNE is one of the country’s leading multimedia companies, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting. In publishing, Tribune’s leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, The Morning Call and Daily Press. The company’s broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, WGN America on national cable and Chicago’s WGN-AM. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune’s print and broadcast properties and extend the company’s nationwide audience.

 

The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) is the premier global non-profit trade association representing all players in the mobile marketing value chain. With more than 700 member companies, the MMA is an action-oriented organization with global focus, regional actions and local relevance. The MMA’s primary focus is to establish mobile as an indispensable part of the marketing mix.   The MMA works to promote, educate measure, guide and protect the mobile marketing industry worldwide. The MMA’s global headquarters are located in the United States and it has regional chapters including North America (NA), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America (LATAM and Asia Pacific (APAC) branches. For more information, please visit www.mmaglobal.com.

 

Valerie Christopherson/Evan Tamura
MMA PR/Global Results Comm. (GRC)
P:+1 949 608 0276
E: [email protected]