January 21, 2009 - Scranton, PA – After an exhaustive search of all available options, Times-Shamrock Communications has signed a contract with Vision Data of Rensselaer, NY to install Vision Total Advertising, Vision Classified Pagination, Vision Retail Ad Layout, Vision Java Circulation, Vision Total AP/GL, and its VisionWeb Suite which includes Home Order Entry, Circulation Subscription Management and Circulation Carrier/Dealer Management.

According to Jim Towner, General Manager of the Times-Tribune in Scranton, "After an extensive search and review of several systems, we selected Vision Data because they fit well with all Times-Shamrock publications and locations. We felt that Vision Data would provide us with the systems that will enhance our needs well into the future."

A Sun Microsystems Enterprise Server, with a second server for backup, will handle all of the advertising and business functions of the entire group, as well as all display and classified order entry and management for print and on-line publications through the single common database of the Vision Total Advertising system, which will provide a totally flexible ability to create cross-selling scenarios for display and classified advertisers in print, on-line, or print and on-line packages. All of the pertinent display advertising data (advertising masters, contract details and account history details) for each of their separate companies will be converted from their former systems to the Vision Data database on the server.

The print products will be designed via the Vision Retail Ad Layout system and the classified sections will be produced via the Vision Classified Pagination system.

The VisionWeb Suite will provide direct entry of both print and on-line classified ads to private individuals, with payment, billing and pricing functions being managed by a single rating engine in the central server. It handles ad payment via credit card, or direct charges for established accounts with approved credit. The VisionWeb Suite also provides commercial advertisers direct access to their own accounts, allowing access to ad history, prior statements, as well as order review and entry. The VisionWeb Suite will also provide on-line subscription and carrier/dealer management for subscribers and those involved in the circulation process.

General Accounting will be moving to the Vision Total AP/GL system, with full file conversions for 20 individual companies from prior systems. Advanced reporting and dash-boarding capabilities will be provided through the sophisticated Vision Data Analyzer.

The new Vision Java Circulation management system will include full mapping capabilities through a dedicated link to MapInfo. Vision Java Circulation directly interfaces to the Vision Total Advertising system for cross-selling with classified and display through the Integrated Customer Service System (ICSS) and a direct link to the Vision Total Advertising preprint ordering system. Also included will be the Vision EFT module, which automates each newspaper’s E-Z Pay program. As with advertising, there will be a full conversion of both subscriber and carrier files, both current and historical.

The system, designed for use by over 200 concurrent users will be employed in The Times-Tribune (Scranton PA), Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre PA), City Paper (Baltimore MD), Cleveland Scene (OH), The Community Newspaper Group (Scranton PA), The Daily Review (Towanda PA), Metrotimes (Detroit MI), The News-Item (Shamokin PA), Orlando Weekly (FL), The Progress-Index (Petersburg VA), Republican & Herald (Pottsville PA), San Antonio Current (TX), The Standard-Speaker (Hazleton PA), The Times-Shamrock Weekly Group (Montrose PA), and The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas VI), as well as multiple smaller weekly and shopper publications, editions, and other miscellaneous Times-Shamrock Internet entities for cross-selling purposes.