Company Promotes Culture of Creativity, Innovation and Collaboration

LIVONIA, Mich., Valassis, one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, announced today that it has been recognized by Advertising Age magazine as one of the "Best Places to Work in Marketing & Media." This is the first time Valassis has earned recognition on this prestigious list. Agencies, media owners and marketers with more than 50 full-time employees were eligible, and the final list was determined by the results of two surveys; one detailing hiring practices, benefits and pay, and the second, an employee survey. The surveys were conducted by Buck Consultants LLC. Valassis was one of 30 companies named to this list.

"It's an honor to have our name on this esteemed list which is highly regarded in the marketing and advertising communities," said Alan F. Schultz, Valassis Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). "We are committed to maintaining a culture that is dynamic, innovative and collaborative. This recognition is a tribute to our enthusiastic and passionate associates who drive our success and mirror these same attributes in their day-to-day interactions with each other and our clients."

Valassis rewards creativity through a variety of programs, including a peer-to-peer program; associate appreciation days; and a Platinum Performer program in which 50 employees a quarter are recognized and rewarded with extra vacation days and cash payouts. Communication is also key to the company's collaborative work environment, and information is shared on an ongoing basis through daily huddles, CEO town hall meetings, leadership toolkit sessions, our internal newsletter and company portal, Sales road shows and more. The company provides a host of convenient services, including onsite workout facilities and discounts, health fairs/flu shots, dry cleaning, postal services and discount tickets, to name a few.

As a company, Valassis has received numerous awards recognizing its workplace flexibility, culture, growth and technology, including Working Mother magazine's Best Companies for Hourly Workers; 100 Fastest-Growing Companies by FORTUNE magazine; FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For Hall of Fame 2005; InformationWeek 500, Top Technology Innovators; Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility; Diversity Employers Top 100 Employers; and more.

Nearly 150 companies applied for inclusion on Advertising Age's second annual Best Places list. About 12,000 employees took the survey which measured aspects of the workplace environment that contribute to an engaged staff, including fairness of pay, vacation time, relationships with management and co-workers, career development and other workplace issues. The employee survey accounted for 60 percent of the scoring. The employer survey focused on quantitative issues about pay, promotions, health care and other benefits, hiring practices and more. The winners are detailed in Advertising Age's Aug. 22 issue, at www.adage.com. To read more about Valassis, go to: http://adage.com/article/best-places-to-work/places-work-media-marketing-29-valassis/229336/