5.15.2008 - 01:25pm ET

(CSRwire) SPRINGFIELD, MA - May 15, 2008 - When a natural disaster strikes, it's hard to know the best way for your business to contribute if you are a newswire service. First, with the cyclone in Burma and a few days later, the earthquake in China. We are all saddened by the tragic images we see in the media—destroyed villages, dead bodies, orphaned children, innocent lives, many of whom had already endured an inordinate amount of suffering—now forced to confront the inexplicable.

But how can newswires be most effective in making a difference? This question is compounded by the fact that the nature of the global newswire business is a competitive one. Who can get the news first? Who can distribute it the fastest? What does it mean for a newswire to be socially responsible in the wake of a massive crisis?

The latter question was answered ten-fold by the nation's most prominent newswires when many of them decided to put business-as-usual aside and distribute releases at no cost to help aid efforts in the two ravaged regions.

"As the channel for Corporate Social Responsibility news we have been moved by watching and reporting on the tremendous outpouring of support and relief offered by organizations worldwide," says CSRwire COO Greg Schneider. "As a newswire in an industry that is characterized by fierce competition, it has been heartwarming to see the leaders in the industry offer their services and support for free. We are humbled."

President and CEO of Marketwire Michael Nowlan says at the end of the day, what matters most is being able to make a difference with whatever means you have at your disposal.

"As a newswire, we provide access to powerful channels through which we communicate messages worldwide," he says. "And given these recent disasters, making such distribution channels available at no charge is what we must do to help bring relief to the thousands impacted."

PR Newswire President Dave Armon echoed similar sentiments.

"It is true that we are business people. But we are people first and foremost," says PR Newswire President Dave Armon. "The largest corporations on earth rely on PR Newswire to get out the their market-moving news stories, so it's easy to see how our network can be put to good use when a crisis occurs. The Burmese and Chinese people who lost their family members, homes and livelihoods in natural disasters don't have a PR budget to amplify their pleas for aid. That's why we've offered to help. It's the right thing to do, and our employees are proud to be part of the relief effort."

The newswires referenced in this article can be reached at:

CSRwire 802-251-0110, editor@csrwire.com
Marketwire 800-774-9473, pmilana@marketwire.com
PR Newswire 800-832-5522, rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com


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