Cox Interactive Media Announces New Hires

    ATLANTA, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Interactive Media (CIM) has staked
its claim in cyberspace by producing technologically-advanced Web sites that
build community and interaction among users. Fueling CIM's growth and ability
to deliver unique content on the Web is the quality personnel leading the way
in the company's interactive studios across the nation.
    As part of its plan to attract highly qualified managers and leverage the
expertise of its existing staff, CIM announced today that Austin Studio
manager John Triplett will join CIM's Phoenix Studio as general manager on
August 18, 1997.  Triplett is moving to Phoenix to manage the development of a
Web site based on high speed cable access through @Home, a product offering
unprecedented speed, digital video and sound, vivid animation and 3D graphics.
    Ben Smylie, a technology and media veteran, will replace Triplett in the
Austin Studio on August 4.  Smylie will be responsible for managing all
activities related to Austin360 (http://www.Austin360.com), GoWest (http://www.gowest.com),
Go Big 12 (http://www.gobig12.com) and Hook 'em (http://www.hookem.com).
    Smylie comes to CIM from Mission Critical Technologies where he was vice
president of marketing and sales and the company's founder before selling it
to FutureTense, Inc. in June 1997.  Smylie's professional background includes
in-depth experience in product marketing and electronic publishing for Atex,
Inc. and the Chicago Sun-Times.  Smylie views his new position with CIM as an
opportunity to take advantage of the new business, publishing, and community-
building fronts on the Internet.
    "I look forward to the challenge that CIM and our Austin-based Internet
brands present," said Smylie. "The Web presents a tremendous new opportunity
for communications companies and I'm delighted to be working with Cox
Interactive Media and with the Austin-American Statesman."
    In addition to Smylie's hiring, Austin360 has a new brand manager, Nancy
Regent.  Nancy's professional history includes fifteen years of journalism
experience.  Most recently, Regent was the online news editor for
theadvocate.com, the online version of the Baton Rouge Advocate.  She has
received several awards for her work in journalism, including the Louisiana
Press Association's 1988 award for best in-depth reporting.
    "We are delighted to add these veterans and their vast talent to the CIM
team in Austin.  We know they will build solidly on the underpinnings John and
the team have developed," said Michael Laosa,
Publisher of the Austin American-Statesman. "We look forward to working in
partnership with them and the rest of CIM's staff to continue to develop
quality Web sites."
    Other new hires in Austin include Guy D. Cherp II who is joining Austin360
as Assistant Sales Manager.  Cherp joins CIM from Val-Pak of Denver where he
managed almost $20,000 in sales each month.
    Peter Winter, President of CIM, sees the new hires and personnel shifts as
a vital component of success.  "Putting talented and experienced people in
place in key markets is essential to our plan to build award winning local Web
sites," said Winter.  "John, Ben, Nancy, and Guy represent the quality
management and expertise skills which will ensure that Cox Interactive Media
continues to produce the best sites on the Web."
    Cox Interactive Media (http://www.cimedia.com), a newly formed subsidiary of Cox
Enterprises, has created local city sites, such as AccessAtlanta
(http://www.accessatlanta.com) and Austin360 (http://www.austin360.com).  These city sites
provide users specific information unique to their communities as well as
opportunities for online interaction with other users through community
bulletin boards and chat rooms.  Specialty sites like FASTBALL.com
(http://www.fastball.com) and Y'all.com (http://www.yall.com) have also been established to
focus on specific topics which have regional or national appeal. In 1997, CIM
will launch more than 20 additional studios in metropolitan areas across the
country.
    A leading media company, Cox Enterprises, Inc. includes Cox Newspapers,
Inc. (newspapers, direct mail marketing, book publishing), Cox Broadcasting,
Inc. (TV, spot sales, movie/television production, research, publicly traded
Cox Radio, Inc.) and publicly traded Cox Communications, Inc. (cable
distribution, programming, broadband communications) in addition to Cox
Interactive Media.  The company is the world's largest operator of automobile
auctions through Manheim Auctions, providing financial services, government
auctions, online services and price guides.

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