HarperCollins Publishers and the Smithsonian Institution Announce Co-P

    Publishing Writers/Business Editors

    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2005--The Smithsonian Institution and HarperCollins Publishers today announced the formation of a broad and long-term publishing partnership. This co-publishing venture combines the strengths of two venerable brands to create a distinguished line of high quality popular reference and adult non-fiction books: approximately 100 Smithsonian branded titles a year in categories such as Science, American History, Natural History, Native American History, Biography, Popular Reference, Art and Design. The launch list will be published in Fall 2005. In the future, the Smithsonian line of books will expand to publish books for children and for the Latino market.
    The Smithsonian line of books will be published as part of the Collins Division of the HarperCollins General Books Group led by Joseph Tessitore, President of Collins. Don Fehr, former Director of Smithsonian Institution Press, will be Publisher of Smithsonian Books and will acquire books for the joint program. Smithsonian Books is the trade book publishing arm of the Smithsonian Institution and is part of the Smithsonian Business Ventures Group, which also publishes Smithsonian Magazine. In addition, HarperCollins Publishers will be the exclusive distributor of the Smithsonian Books' backlist.
    "This unique collaboration furthers our Publishing+ initiative of establishing Collins in the U.S.," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers. "With the Smithsonian's stellar reputation, vast archives and scholarship on a broad range of subjects, and HarperCollins' publishing expertise and sales and distribution capabilities, the partnership will work to maximize the Smithsonian's trusted brand through books. Publishing+ continues to generate momentum, excitement and results."
    "This is an exciting, new trade book publishing model for the Smithsonian Institution, bringing the resources and industry expertise of HarperCollins to mount a major expansion of our content and brand in the marketplace," said Gary Beer, CEO of Smithsonian Business Ventures. "The opportunity is a win-win for the Smithsonian to serve our mission, the "increase and diffusion of knowledge."
    The Smithsonian Institution's brand is unparalleled, with a 94% brand recognition among adult Americans, and is ranked #1 for quality and trust by Equitrend. It has been publishing scholarly and academic books since 1848. Smithsonian Magazine, in its 35 year of publication, is the most notable extension of the brand in publishing, with more than 7 million readers a month. It consistently ranks among the top three monthly consumer print magazines for overall quality. The Smithsonian attracts more than 20 million visitors to its 18 museums and 30 million visitors to traveling exhibits each year. And over 20 million unique visitors reach the Institution's various websites every month.
    Smithsonian Business Ventures operates the Institution's portfolio of businesses, including the Smithsonian Magazine and museum retail stores and visitor concessions.
    Collins is one of the most recognized and respected reference brands in the English-speaking world. HarperCollins, building on this international brand appeal, recently announced a Collins Division which will launch in Fall 2005. The list is comprised of five imprints including Collins Reference, Collins Wellness, Collins Lifestyle, Collins Business and Collins Design, with the mission to empower consumers to Live More, Do More, Learn More.
    "This partnership is a key strategy to create new opportunities for our authors, as we build Collins into the leading American category trade publisher," said Tessitore. "The Collins list combines a powerhouse of authors and franchises with unrivalled authority and consumer appeal. And now, our partnership with the Smithsonian Institution adds a significant new dimension to our efforts. Interestingly, Smithsonian Institution founder, James Smithson, was an Englishman whose mission melds perfectly with the mission of another Englishman, his contemporary, William Collins."

    HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children's Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.

--30--JC/ny*

CONTACT: HarperCollins Publishers Lisa Herling, 212-207-7583 or The Rosen Group Lori Rosen, 212-255-8455 or Smithsonian Institution Linda St. Thomas, 202-357-2627

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLISHING CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: HarperCollins Publishers

Copyright Business Wire 2005