http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=70219769

NEW YORK, Mar 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations Career Day, created to provide a forum where multicultural professionals can network and explore career opportunities in the advertising and public relations industries, will be held at the Hilton New York hotel in New York City on Thursday, April 24. The New York Times is the presenting sponsor of the event, which is produced by Shomex Productions.

"The impetus for this event came when the New York City Commission on Human Rights reached agreements with 16 leading advertising agencies to recruit, promote and retain more women and minorities, especially blacks, to diversify senior management and to allow city officials to monitor the diversification process," said Lew Shomer, president of Shomex Productions and creator of Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations Career Day. "What started as an event for New York agencies has turned into a rich networking opportunity for agencies and marketers outside of the city who are also looking to fill their teams with the best and brightest talent. This year, more than 50 agencies, public relations firms and marketers from Boston, Durham, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Oakland and more are participating alongside New York companies."

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has proclaimed Thursday, April 24, 2008, to be "Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations Career Day," saluting the one-day job fair and conference. "A diverse workplace is good for business, and we are thankful for the hard work of all those who have made possible this wonderful event," said the Mayor.

"Smart agencies, corporate advertisers and media have come to recognize the value to their bottom line of creating a diverse work force," said Patricia Sierra Sampson, advertising director, The New York Times. "The Diversity in Advertising and PR Career Day event provides companies with a unique opportunity to locate, recruit and attract qualified candidates from culturally diverse communities."

According to Bloomberg, "This event...will allow thousands of advertising professionals to network, take part in educational seminars, and explore career opportunities with leading advertising agencies, corporate advertisers, and media companies...I commend all those participating in this event for their commitment to sustaining and strengthening our proud tradition of inclusiveness."

Backed by Industry, Community and Educational Leadership

Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations Career Day has won the support of an outstanding group in multicultural community, professional and academic partners, including the NAACP's New York State Conference of Branches, the National Association of Minority Media Executives, the Public Relations Society of America, the Council of Public Relations Firms, the Asian American Advertising Federation, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, TalentZoo.com, the Advertising Research Foundation, Advertising Women in New York, Portada-online.com, New York University and its Stern School of Business, the City College of New York, the City University of New York and its Baruch School of Business, Columbia University, Florida State University, the New York Institute of Technology and the State University of New York and its Fashion Institute of Technology.

"With the backing of these highly respected and influential organizations, combined with the power and reach of The New York Times, Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations Career Day will attract a diverse audience of skilled and motivated minority professionals," said Shomer.

Shomer added, "This event will provide an exciting and efficient forum for agencies, advertisers and media companies to source employees with many of the skill sets needed for mid- and senior-level positions. And we believe that it has the potential to literally change the face of the advertising industry, by the way in which the industry perceives diversity and realizes its ability to do something about it."

About Shomex Productions

From its beginning in 1984 with one event, Shomex Productions (www.shomex.com) has emerged as a leader in all its business niches, and has built its Diversity Career Fair brand, presented in partnership with leading diversity organizations, into the leading live diversity recruiting platform in the U.S. Shomex has produced more than 1,000 events from coast to coast, in virtually every major U.S. market, serving dozens of industries, including advertising, aerospace, pharmaceutical, health care, retail, financial services, computer, telecommunications, media and entertainment.

About The New York Times

The New York Times Company (NYT), a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

SOURCE: Shomex Productions


EXHIBITORS: To receive booth registration information, please contact Jason Nierras at (310) 309-4419 or send an email to JNierras@shomex.com.