Changes

'''Medialink Worldwide''' (commonly referred to as '''Medialink''') states on its website that it helps "professional communicators and the media engage their intended audiences with compelling video and audio distributed via the Web, television and radio."<ref>Medialink Worldwide, [http://www.medialink.com/about/default.aspx "About Medialink"], accessed March 2008.</ref> An earlier verion of In July 2009, the company's website decsribed the company as "a global leader in corporate media communications services," connecting corporate clients with news industry producersbroadcast public relations firm [[The NewsMarket]] announced that it was purchasing Medialink.<ref>Tonya Garcia, "[http://webwww.archiveprweekus.orgcom/UPDATED-The-NewsMarket-to-acquire-Medialink/webarticle/20060115211710139428/httpUPDATED://www.medialink.com/_aboutuscorp.htm "About The NewsMarket to acquire Medialink],"]''PR Week'', January 15July 1, 2006. (This is an archived page in the Internet Archive)2009.</ref>

An earlier version of the company's website described the company as "a global leader in corporate media communications services," connecting corporate clients with news industry producers.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060115211710/http://www.medialink.com/_aboutuscorp.htm "About Medialink"], January 15, 2006. (This is an archived page in the Internet Archive).</ref> Medialink boasts proprietary databases used in audience research, while a partnership with the [[Associated Press]] puts the news releases of Medialink clients on the desks of most United States' television news editors. Medialink claims credit for having pioneered the [[video news release]].

In August 2006, Medialink announced a new partnership with [[ClipSyndicate]], a "next-generation online video advertising and content syndication platform." The press release said the partnerhsip would allow Medialink "to distribute informational video clips produced for corporations and organizations, preceded by video advertising, commonly known as 'pre-roll' or 'in-stream' spots." <ref name= "Clip">Medialink Worldwide, [http://homewww.businesswireallbusiness.com/portal/sitetechnology/googlesoftware-services-applications-internet-social/index5347640-1.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060809005625&newsLang=enhtml "Medialink Partners with ClipSyndicate for Online Syndication of Broadband Video; Online Video Syndication to Reach Thousands of Websites, Expands Medialink's Multiplatform Distribution"], Media Release, August 9 2006.</ref>

The arrangement will allow Medialink clients "to easily extend brand visibility through an Internet distribution channel that syndicates video clips to thousands of themed websites for their end-users," the press release stated. "Because these viewers have actively selected to play the online video, they represent highly desirable, qualified audiences for marketers." [http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId<ref name=news_view&newsId=20060809005625&newsLang=en]"Clip">

The videos are described as "informational" and "about two minutes in length," indicating they are [[video news releases]] or similar products. The press release says Medialink will "provide source disclosure and contact details for viewers to learn more about the product, service or issue profiled in the clip." It also lists Medialink's current options for distributing "broadcast and broadband content" as being "broadcast and cable television spots, venue-based media, digital cable video-on-demand, and online distribution such as search engine marketing (SEM), podcasts and RSS feeds, and web syndication." [http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId<ref name=news_view&newsId=20060809005625&newsLang=en]"Clip">

Part of the art of a [[Satellite Media Tours|satellite media tour]] is not making the 'interview' appear too much like a commercial. The Vice President of media relations at Medialink Worldwide, Lidj Lewis, told ''PR Week''. "TV interviews only last a couple of minutes, so multiple mentions of a product or service will only make your message sound overly commercial and anger the show's producer, which may make it difficult to schedule interviews in the future." <ref>Christie Casalino, [http://www.prweek.com/uk/search/article/519511/gaining+exposure+proper+disclosure/"Gaining exposure with proper disclosure"], ''PR Week'', October 3, 2005.</ref>

At the April 2005 [[National Cable TV Association]] National Show in San Francisco, Medialink announced a new partnership with WheelsTV, "a cable TV and Internet service devoted exclusively to consumers' interests in cars, trucks and motorcycles." According to ''O'Dwyer's'', Medialink will "develop consumer automotive lifestyle programming," including both "sponsored and non-sponsored content," and WheelsTV would start distributing the material in June 2005. WheelsTV plans "to start a full linear network in 2005." <ref name ="Wheels">[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2005/april/0404medialink.htm"Medialink to Provide Programming for Cable"], ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', April 4, 2005.</ref>

Medialink's media relations head, [[Lidj Lewis]], called the deal "an ideal fit for our news and information packages," adding that it "will substantially enhance the content and service offerings of both organizations, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations across all media." Future possibilities include a "co-branded radio series serving the sponsorship base of both companies." [http://www.odwyerprMedialink has already produced a "prepackaged news program for General Motors," which "began with statistics on arthritic Americans" and promoted GM's "Sit-N-Lift" powered seat.com/members/0404medialink.htm] [http://www.prwatch.org/node<ref name ="Wheels"/3545]>

In March 2007, Medialink announced a new project, "[http://www.prnewsonline.com/digitalpr/ The Digital PR Report]," launched jointly with [[PR News]]. A press release described the project as a "one-of-a-kind microsite dedicated to providing PR professionals with communications strategies surrounding Web 2.0, from video-based PR campaigns to leveraging brands within online communities." The release quoted Medialink's senior vice president of corporate communications, [[Mary C. Buhay]], as saying, "As audiences seek more relevance and greater control in their media consumption, Medialink is empowering public relations professionals to appreciate their modern roles as content providers and publishers in a what is rapidly becoming a disintermediated world." <ref>PR News, [http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/3/emw511320.htm] ==History== Medialink was founded in 1986 with the initial focus on the distribution of [[video news releases]] (VNR's). In 1996 it began producing VNR's "PR News and has since developed a full range of video, audio, Internet, still photography and print services which it now provides on a global basis".  In June 1997 Medialink bought the Corporate Television Group which had been previously known as Reuters Corporate Television. The purchase, Medialink wrote in its 1998 report to the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] "brought a roster of blue-chip clients such as [[Microsoft]], [[Philip Morris]], General Intruments and Compaq Computer". In August 1997 Medialink added the London-based video and production company On Line Broadcasting which added the ability provide live radio and television broadcasting in the UK to complement its US capacity. According to Medialink, the combined US and UK market for its range of media services was estimated to be $US600 million while its actual revenue that year was only $26.7 million. In November 1998 Medialink bought Wirepix. In 1999, in a joint venture with [[Business Wire]], Medialink created [[Newstream.com]], a to provide "multimedia assets to more than 11,000 online news and information Web sites that increasingly need streaming video, audio, presentations, and graphics to be competitive". [http://ccbn.tenkwizard.com/filing.php?repo=tenk&ipage=2730069&doc=1&total=&attach=ON&TK=MDLK&CK=0000812890&FG=0&CK2=812890&FC=000000&BK=FFFFFF&SC=ON&TC=FFFFFF&TC1=FFFFFF&TC2=FFFFFF&LK=333399&AL=333399&VL=666635] In January 2000 Medialink launched [[Newstream.com]] as with the aim of it being, according to its 2000 Annual Launch Digital PR Report, the Online"leading Internet portal dedicated to distributing downloadable mutlimedia news content to online newsrooms".[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NSD/MDLK/reports/00_AR.pdf] In 2002, [[Corporate Communications Broadcast Network]], [[Business Wire]]Media Release, and Medialink partnered to assure corporate clients better control of their public imageMarch 15, in part through easy access to top-quality video news releases2007. [http://www.ccbn.com/news/news_releases_archive/releases2002/20020528.asp] In October 2006 Medialink sold [[U.S. Newswire]] to [[PR Newswire]] for $19 million. [http://www.prnewswire.com</mnr/prnewswire/25626/]ref>

As of March 2008 Medialink's management is comprised of:

*[[Victor L. LeeLarry Thomas]], President, U.S. BroadcastChief Operating Officer*[[William McCarrenKenneth G. Torosian]], President, U.S. NewswireChief Financial Officer*[[Lucy HadfieldDonald M. Michels]], Managing Director, International Operations, U.K. BroadcastChief Technology Officer

*[[Mitchell B. SaslowScott Michaeloff]], Senior Vice President, Information Technology and Chief Technology OfficerExecutive Producer*[[Jack Serpa]], Senior Vice President, TeletraxClient Solutions*[[Susan MacalusoAndrew Lipson]], Associate Vice Presidentof Operations with a focus on new media <ref>Press release, Corporate Communications"[http://www.techweb.com/showPressRelease.jhtml?articleID=X718075 New Media Veteran Lipson Joins Medialink as VP Operations]," Medialink via PR Newswire, August 28, 2008.</ref>

From a September 2007 press releaseAs of March 2008 the Board of Directors of Medialink comprises: *[http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NETH04006092007-1.htm[Laurence Moskowitz]], Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Medialink Worldwide

*[[Douglas S. Knopper]], CEO Free Wheel Media, Inc.*[[BitPassJeffrey Stone]], private investor*[[Catherine Lugbauer]], principal, [[Kelly and Lugbaeur]]*[[Laurence MoskowitzThe Lugbauer Group]], Chairman, President, CEO of Medialink

In its annual 10-K return to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Medialink states that as of December 31, 2004 it had 164 employees. "None of theCompany's employees is represented by a labor union. Management believes thatits employee relations are good," the annual report states.[http://biz.yahoo.com/e/050331/mdlk10-k.html]

"Clients also include virtually every major [[PR firm]] in the United States and the United Kingdom," the company states in its 2003 annual report to the U.S. Securities and Stock Exchange Commission. PR firm clients include [[Burson-Marsteller]], [[Hill & Knowlton]], [[Ketchum]], [[Edelman]] and [[Weber Shandwick Worldwide]]. [http://ccbn.tenkwizard.com/filing.php?repo=tenk&ipage=2730069&doc=1&total=&attach=ON&TK=MDLK&CK=0000812890&FG=0&CK2=812890&FC=000000&BK=FFFFFF&SC=ON&TC=FFFFFF&TC1=FFFFFF&TC2=FFFFFF&LK=333399&AL=333399&VL=666635]Medialinks boasts that it has had over 3000 clients. While it does not list current clients on its website, includingsome clients can be identified from the VNRs posted to the website. Past and present clients include:*[[AARP]]<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-28-2008/0004782161&EDATE= "VIDEO from Medialink and AARP: Economic Stimulus Payments for the 20 Million Retirees, Disabled Veterans and Low-Wage Workers This Tax Season"], March 28, 2008.</ref>

*[[Pfizer]]<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-27-2008/0004781672&EDATE= "AUDIO from Medialink and Pfizer: Viagra's 10th Anniversary"], March 27, 2008.</ref>

*[[Society of Interventional Radiology]]<ref>See for example Medialink, [[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2008/0004775405&EDATE= 'VIDEO from Medialink and the Society of Interventional Radiology: Interventional Cryoablation Stops Cancer Cold"], Media Release, March 17, 2008></ref>

==Articles and Resourcesresources=====Sources===<references/>

===Related SourceWatch Articlesarticles===

===External linksReferences===<references/>

*"[http://www.odwyerspr.com/members/0317vnr_new_standards_transcript.htm Transcript to VNR Teleconference]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' (sub. req'd.), March 17, 2005. Also available publicly on the Center for Media & Democracy website, [httphttps://www.prwatch.org/node/3374#comment-179 here]. This teleconference featured comments by Medialink CEO Larry Moskowitz.

====General Articles=External articles===

*Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/vnr16 A Planted Story on Ethanol Plants]", from "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary Fake TV News:Widespread and Undisclosed]", April 6, 2006.*Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/vnr22 VNR Gets Extra Mileage Out of Car Commercial]", from "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary Fake TV News:Widespread and Undisclosed]", April 6, 2006.*Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/vnr35 A Few Good Wrenches]", from "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary Fake TV News:Widespread and Undisclosed]", April 6, 2006. *Diane Farsetta, "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/node/4794 Fake TV News Show Covers Fake TV News Report]", PRWatch.org, May 5, 2006.