XML-based specification enables uniform transactions for insertion orders between for Publisher & Agency ALEXANDRIA, VA (October 24, 2002) - IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) and its SPACE/XML Working Group have announced the official release of the SPACE/XML standard - an XML schema-based standard for the print media publishing information supply chain. SPACE/XML is one of the first industry applications of the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) compliant schema and continues IDEAlliance's 20 year leadership in information interoperability and standards development in publishing. SPACE/XML (Specifications for Publisher & Agency Communications Exchange: IDEAlliance Standard 150-2002) presents a standard electronic format for sending and acknowledging advertising space reservations, insertion orders, and extensible digital file of creative material between advertising agencies, prepress or premedia services, printers, and publishers. This freely available standard enables a process of well-defined information exchange and creates a uniform way for all parties to conduct business. The SPACE/XML standard is endorsed by the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), Digital Distribution of Advertising for Publications (DDAP) Association, and the Production Committee of the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA). The working group is chaired by Craig Shrader and involved more than 40 representatives across 30 companies in the agency, premedia, printer, publisher value chain. The committee's release of SPACE/XML is the next generation of the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standard for advertising, published in 1991, and the SPACE/X12 version, published in 2000. Although the SPACE/X12 standard applied only to print forms of advertising the transition to XML was a logical next step and provides distinct advantages. Kevin Hickey, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Distribution for The Conde Nast Publication, Inc. and Chairman of the MPA Production Committee, said, "The SPACE standard provides the power of XML to the insertion order process throughout the advertising supply chain. It will improve the effectiveness of all participants in the chain to provide more accurate and timely information." Tracy T. Windrum, Vice President of Manufacturing, Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing, said, "The standard is designed to minimize the cost and impact of errors or discrepancies during the insertion order process. SPACE/XML provides for automated reconciliation at various points during the workflow. This enables people to check discrepancies before they become problems. The new, XML-based standard makes this release even more usable across many different platforms, allowing for greater accuracy and reliability in the insertion order process." "We are proponents of this standard as it will allow us to exchange and keep track of information like never before." said Serena Duff, Media Director at TWBAChiatDay in New York. "For the first time we will have confirmation that paperwork has arrived and that it was accurate. On the production side, knowing that the materials were sent out and received is invaluable. XML standards will pave the way for cross-media publishing effectiveness." "This standard is a linchpin to achieving end-to-end data durability, which promises to eliminate costly, error-prone, repeated and non-value-added conversion of bits to atoms and back into bits again," added Kirk Carr, Director, Advertising Services, Dow Jones & Co., Inc. "The only time we add value by converting bits into atoms is when we produce a newspaper or a color proof. Through Space/XML we have an opportunity to rapidly reach critical mass in electronic transaction of business that parallels automated processing of digital material in the advertising/publishing space." "The SPACE/XML Working Group has worked on developing this standard using the input of parties from throughout the agency/premedia/printer/publisher chain, ensuring that the final standard will be mutually beneficial to everyone involved in the process. In addition, we have worked to ensure compatibility and interoperability with industry-based XML standards," said David J. Steinhardt, President of IDEAlliance. The SPACE/XML standard is available FREE at www.idealliance.org. About SPACE/XML In 1994, IDEAlliance (then known as Graphic Communications Association-GCA) and the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), joined the Digital Distribution of Advertising for Publications (DDAP) initiative DEBIES (DDAP Electronic Business Information Exchange Subcommittee), to develop a standard for overall agency-to-print publisher business information exchange. This working group eventually developed the SPACE X12 document, released in 2000 by GCA. SPACE/XML is the newest set of agency/printer/publisher standards to allow any publication or agency to receive insertion orders electronically from any source. About IDEAlliance IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) is a not-for-profit membership organization. Its mission is to advance user-driven, cross-industry solutions for all publishing and content-related processes by developing standards, fostering business alliances, and identifying best practices. IDEAlliance has been a leader in information technology since 1966 (founded as Graphic Communications Association) having fostered the development and adoption of standards such as ADIS, GRACoL, ICE, JIFFI, Mail.dat, papiNet, PRISM, PROSE XML, SPACE/XML, SGML, and XML. Learn more about IDEAlliance at www.idealliance.org.