Kiamedia.com Virtual Newsroom Goes Live with Improved Functionality, Instantaneous News and Quick Access to all things Kia

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012 – Reporters, analysts, correspondents and pundits, rejoice! A completely redesigned Kiamedia.com is now live, providing up-to-the-minute alerts, product information, photography, high-resolution video and virtual press kits for all Kia-related news. Customization of news preferences, a live social media stream on the homepage and speedy access to Kia Racing, sales data, featured stories and press releases are just a few of the website highlights. Users have access to Download Baskets that allow for the easy grouping, sharing and sending of information to others. A new and highly advanced search tool makes it easy to use keywords, terms and phrases to quickly locate any asset on the site, including archived information.  A mobile version of Kiamedia.com is expected to launch in early 2013 and will be Smartphone compatible.

“Kiamedia.com was one of the auto industry’s first online newsrooms, and journalists enjoyed using its simple screens and quick links to research their stories. But after more than a decade in its current form, it was time to take the site to the next level and once again lead the industry,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “The all-new website was strategically designed with journalists’ needs and preferences as our top priority, all to provide the most informative and easy-to-use virtual newsroom possible.”

Developed by partner DMT Development Systems Group, and nearly a year in the making, the online newsroom was focus-group tested by more than 25 print, web and social media journalists with outlets centered on general news, business, automotive and lifestyle story formats. The resemblance to its predecessor is evident with the elegant use of white space, but the new version offers increased functionality, clear navigation menus and large buttons to quickly access major subsections of the virtual newsroom. 

Whether a beat reporter, business writer or vehicle reviewer, journalists are encouraged to register on the password-free site and customize the Kia news they are most interested in receiving.  Alerts are automatically delivered to the user’s email account when news pertaining to the journalist’s interests is posted.  The Download Basket, another new feature, is a particularly useful tool for photo editors. Journalists can quickly select the images needed for a story, bundle them and send an email to their photo department, all from the Download Basket page. Kiamedia stores the images on a custom page that makes it easy for the photo editor to receive, select and download any image in the Download Basket.

While cutting edge, Kiamedia isn’t standing still. Work has already begun on Kiamedia mobile. Expected to launch by the second quarter of 2013, the mobile site will contain all the news, product and racing information of the website, but in a version specifically designed for smart phones.

Journalists can register for Kiamedia.com news alerts by selecting their preferences at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert/subscribe.

New and Noteworthy Features of Kiamedia.com

• Quick access to all of our latest news and media assets
• Sales data comparison tool
• Featured story section that will provide insight into the most recent and/or exciting material
• Online Press Kits provide all of the related material on a topic in a single click
• Robust, quick and advanced search engine with text auto-complete
• Complete model information including a multi-trim comparison feature for product specifications
• Photo and video galleries with multiple download qualities and the ability to filter results
• Dedicated Kia Racing area with racing schedules, driver bios, race results, photos and video
• News Alert subscription service to receive information automatically
• Download Basket tool enabling users to select and download multiple assets and formats at one time
• Send to a Friend email functionality
• Complete PR contact listing
• Top search cloud reveals the most searched content
• Social media sharing made easy with “Add This”
• Spanish press releases
• RSS feeds

About DMT Development Systems Group Inc.

DMT Development Systems Group Inc. (“DMT”) serves global auto manufacturers and their dealers with specialized and sophisticated systems that share information among companies, dealers and customers while improving lead management, customer relations management and their related business processes. A pioneer in creating what the industry has come to call “PR sites” for automakers, DMT has created these solutions for companies in the U.S., Canada and Europe. A privately held company, DMT has posted double digit growth since its inception and employs more than 85 people at its headquarters on the campus of the University of Manitoba and at an office in Paris, France. Additional customer service personnel work directly with the clients in their locations. A new DMT office opened in Toronto earlier this year.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies[1] in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

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