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Roll Call and GalleryWatch Launch CongressNow

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 19, 2007 — Roll Call, the award-winning Congressional newspaper, and GalleryWatch, a leading provider of online legislative information, today launched CongressNow — a five-day-a-week online source of fast-breaking legislative news.

Building upon the strengths of Roll Call and GalleryWatch, two of Capitol Hill’s most trusted sources of news and information, CongressNow (www.congressnow.com) combines the best of the traditional media model — smart, informed news coverage by experienced journalists — with the advantages of an Internet-only publication.

The newsletter for CongressNow will appear in mid-afternoon, five days a week, and will feature up-to-the-minute news, analysis and committee markups by a staff of reporters and editors who have years of experience covering Congress and policy. This will be complemented by breaking news posted to CongressNow.com throughout the day and sent via e-mail alerts. All of these features are available free to Congressional staff and Members of Congress, and by subscription off Capitol Hill, at www.congressnow.com/subscribe.aspx.

“CongressNow is a natural extension of our mission — providing superior coverage of the people, politics and process of Congress,” said Laurie Battaglia, publisher of Roll Call and CongressNow and managing director of GalleryWatch. “We believe CongressNow will provide Congress-watchers with the kind of insider’s knowledge of Capitol Hill that they have come to expect from Roll Call Group.”

CongressNow will be headed by Editor Louis Jacobson and Managing Editor George Cahlink. Jacobson previously spent three years as deputy editor of Roll Call, originating Roll Call’s “Out There” column on politics in the states, and nearly 11 years with National Journal covering lobbying, politics and policy. Cahlink has covered Congress and the Pentagon for roughly a decade, as a correspondent for Congressional Quarterly, Defense Daily, Government Executive, Federal Times and Inside the Army.

Roll Call Group, an Economist Group business, is made up of Roll Call, GalleryWatch and CongressNow.

About Roll Call

Widely regarded as the leading publication for Congressional news and information, Roll Call has been the newspaper of Capitol Hill since 1955. Thorough, authoritative and entertaining, Roll Call is often the first to break major news stories on the issues and personalities that shape America's laws. With accurate, unbiased reporting, Roll Call remains true to its original mission: delivering superior coverage of the people, politics and process of Congress. For more information, visit www.rollcall.com.

About GalleryWatch

Founded in 1996, GalleryWatch provides professionals at government agencies, trade associations, corporations, law and lobbying firms, and universities with the tools for real-time, advanced legislative monitoring and intelligence. Additional products and services include federal budget and appropriations information and Member voting histories as well as committee transcripts and Congressional Research Service reports. For more information, visit www.gallerywatch.com.

About The Economist Group

Publications and services delivered under The Economist brand are The Economist newspaper, Economist.com, Economist Intelligence Unit, Economist Conferences, The World In and IntelligentLife. The Group’s other global brands include: CFO, a publication for senior finance executives (CFO, CFO Europe, CFO Asia, CFO China, CFO.com); EuroFinance Conferences, a cash and treasury management event business; and Roll Call, GalleryWatch, CongressNow and European Voice (aimed at decision-makers on Capitol Hill and Brussels). The Economist Group is a private company.