"Brand of the Year / EFFIE 2012": Online Startup won the Gold

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May 29, 2013, 10:46 ET

MOSCOW, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Online media SmartNews has got first place of "Brand of the Year / EFFIE 2012" in the "Low-budget project" category.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130529/617761 )

Moscow has hosted "Brand of the Year / EFFIE 2012" on Friday, organized by RBC the awards ceremony of Russia's highest professional award in the branding and marketing communications. First the ceremony was held in 1998. The experts called "Brand of the Year / EFFIE" the most significant award in Russian branding. The effectiveness of brands in Russia and the creative component of their communications with the consumer were the main criterion for the jury.

"SmartNews" is one of the most dynamic and effective online media with great potential growth, say experts of the jury.

"SmartNews" (Brand owner: Nonprofit Organization Center for Civic Journalism "Smart News") was launched in October 2012 and now has more than 50 news bureaus in Russia. Apart from its own correspondents, hundreds of independent newsmen from almost all country regions are contributing with the online media. The number of subscribers in social networks has exceeded 100,000 people. Daily's social and political web paper is visited by 90,000 unique persons. A monthly audience is up to 2.5 million.

A favorable investment climate in the Russian regions makes businesspeople to pay attention not only to Moscow. "Smart News" investors have created a unique project and taken a vacant place in the regional media market. Currently, none of the regional projects could become a powerful representative of regions' interests at the federal level. Nevertheless, the experts say, "Smart News" has reached it at short notice.

More information: http://www.SmartNews.ru

SOURCE SmartNews