NEW YORK, April 04, 2001 – The Association of Graphic Communications (AGC) has announced that New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will be the recipient of this year’s Franklin Award for Distinguished Service, the graphic arts industry’s highest honor. The award, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, recognizes the outstanding achievements of world leaders and dedicated Americans. It will be presented to Mayor Bloomberg on May 16th at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, as part of the 2002 Annual Franklin Event sponsored by the AGC. Since 1952 the Franklin Award has been presented to three U.S. Presidents (Richard Nixon, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Harry Truman), as well as to Norman Rockwell, Walter Cronkite, Governor Mario Cuomo and Senator Bill Bradley. Also at the event, the AGC will present Power of Communications Awards to three distinguished leaders of the graphic communications world: Edward Barr, Chairman of Sun Chemical, the world’s largest manufacturer of printing inks and organic pigments; Marc Reisch, President and CEO of Quebecor World, the largest commercial print media services company; and Diane Romano, President of the Eastern Region and e-Business Division for AGT/Seven Worldwide, the largest provider of outsourced digital imaging management and prepress services. More than 300 printing, publishing, advertising, new media and corporate executives are expected to attend the 2002 Annual Franklin Event at Chelsea Piers, which this year begins with cocktails at 5:30 pm, followed at 6:30 pm by the presentations ceremony and a reception buffet. Reservations are available from the AGC at 330 Seventh Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10001; telephone 212-279-2100; fax 212-279-5381. The cost is $300 per person (MasterCard, Visa and American Express accepted).