MAIN NEWS HEADLINES

October 1-15, 2004 Edition

BREAKING NEWS

Laurie Rippon

Named Publisher

of Harper Design

NEW YORK, NY/09/28/04—HarperCollins Publishers today announced that Laurie Rippon has been named Publisher of Harper Design, the company’s imprint that publishes illustrated books in all aspects of design: architecture, interiors, illustration, pop culture, photography, and graphic arts. Rippon will add this position to her current role as Senior Vice President/Creative Director. Roland Algrant, Senior Vice President of HarperCollins International and creator of Harper Design, will continue his work with the imprint as Co-Publisher.

In addition, Harper Design, which has been a part of the company’s International division, will be integrated into the HarperCollins General Books Group. Rippon will report to Brian Murray, Group President of HarperCollins Publishers who oversees the General Books Group. Moving forward, the imprint will expand its U.S. program—which was launched in the U.S. in 2003, featuring titles such as Prefab Modern; Cottages: The New Style; 20 Years of Style: The World According To Paper; The Big Book of Illustration Ideas and The Little Book series—to approximately 85 titles per year. Harper Design will continue to publish 25 titles per year for the international market exclusively.

“We have a long history of publishing a strong and diverse list of illustrated books with superior quality and worldwide reach. We believe that the time is right to build on Harper Design’s international track record —all that Roland has created and built over the years—and take advantage of what we see as opportunity for further growth in the U.S. market,” said Murray. “Laurie is the ideal person to work with Roland in leading this forward. She brings additional expertise, creativity and a passion for illustrated publishing that will help us to take Harper Design to the next level.”

“Moving the Harper Design list into the HarperCollins publishing mainstream is a terrific development which will ensure its growth,” said Algrant. “I really look forward to passing the baton to Laurie…it is the right time and she is right person.”

Harper Design (originally called HBI) was created by Algrant in 1986 and was acquired by HarperCollins Publishers with the Hearst Book Group in 1999. Current popular titles include The Big Book series, including Logos and Design Ideas which have sold more than 200,000 copies; architecture books such as The Good Home, Mini House, 25 Houses Under 2500 Square Feet, and Sustainable Homes: 20 Designs that Respect the Earth; lifestyle books Spectacular Pools, Dream Apartments and Minimalist Interiors; and a series of small books, including Small Lofts and Small Pools, for those who prefer their design on a small scale. The imprint is very well regarded in the design trade for publishing annual compilations of the best of commercial graphics and logos.

Rippon joined HarperCollins in 1998 as Sr. Vice President, Creative Director. In 2002 she took on the additional role of Director of Illustrated Book Publishing. Prior to joining HarperCollins, she served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hyperion, and Vice President, Marketing Director at Viking.

HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NCP, NCPDP). Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.