Fraud Prompts ZUMA to Take Action

January 28, 2004 - San Clemente, CA - A string of recent incidents has prompted ZUMA Press to initiate an awareness-building campaign targeting credentialing bodies, including publicists and police departments in New York and Los Angeles. The campaign aims to improve recognition of ZUMA photographers and generate greater awareness of ZUMA's near decade of history and strength in the Industry. ZUMA's initiative comes after difficulties getting LAPD and NYPD press passes issued for some of its photographers, coupled with continuous incidents of unknown photographers posing as ZUMA staffers to get credentialed for red-carpet events. "While post 9-11 security issues cause organizations such as the LAPD and NYPD to appropriately be tougher on security, picture agencies are often left out in the cold," says Scott Mc Kiernan, director of ZUMA Press. Part of ZUMA's campaign is aimed at improving the general understanding of how picture agencies fit into the media mix. "Our role has grown over the years," says Mc Kiernan. "We are now instrumental in the dissemination of news, particularly since magazines do not assign as often as they used to, and [they] rely on picture agencies for content more than ever before," he says. "Unfortunately, the newspapers, magazines, television networks and general public who benefit from all of them, lose another fine source of content when we are shut out. We are professionals, and we need professional access," he added. As a first step, ZUMA has redesigned the staff ID badge issued to its active contributing photographers. (ZUMA shooters should contact our credentials manager, Simone Doering, at 949.494.7704 for more information.) ZUMA is also producing a promotional information packet about the company and is taking bids to find the best publicist to tackle ongoing communications directed at credentialing bodies. ZUMA's Golden Coverage of the Globes

About ZUMA Press, Inc.

ZUMA Press is one of the world's leading providers of award-winning photography for editorial, creative professional and corporate use. Founded in 1995, ZUMA Press represents 600+ photographers and a growing network of partners on almost every continent in the world.

ZUMA Press is headquartered in San Clemente, California, with additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and elsewhere around the world. For more information about ZUMA, please visit our corporate Website at www.ZUMApress.com or call 949.494.7704.

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