New Study Suggests Media Tendency to Cover Dubai Critics Over Supporters


WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/10/06 -- Statements against the
Dubai Ports World deal were more likely to be picked up in online news
media than statements in support of the deal, according to a new study
from leading media analysis firm CARMA International, Inc.


CARMA analyzed positive and negative statements published by the
Associated Press in mid-February to see how the statements were
reprinted in online media. While the Associated Press stories balanced
critical and supportive statements of the deal, the critical
statements were more likely to be reprinted in online media. CARMA
tracked 10 critical statements and 11 supportive statements; however,
the critical statements appeared online 45 percent more often than the
supportive statements.


For example, the contention that the UAE was a transfer point for
smuggled nuclear components appeared online 1,260 times, while DP
World's statement that it intended to maintain and enhance current
security arrangements appeared less than one-third as frequently, and
was reprinted online only 329 times.


"Within hours of DP World's March 9 announcement, DP World COO Ted
Bilkey's statement appeared online 131 times. This compared to
previous statements from DP World, that over the course of days had
appeared online only 200 times," explained CARMA Vice President
Jennifer Hoffmann. "The data suggest that online media were more
likely to reprint statements from critics than from supporters of the
DP World deal. CARMA plans to do more research in this area to better
understand how wire stories are carried in online and print media
outlets."


Supportive comments made by U.S. officials were more likely to be
reprinted than those from DP World. "In general, the coverage suggests
that foreign companies looking to build support in U.S. media should
work through domestic officials -- the key is that those officials are
seen as trustworthy. The problem in this case was that the officials
supporting the deal were often the same as the officials under fire,"
said Hoffmann.


CARMA's analysis followed online news coverage of the House move to
block the Dubai Ports deal and DP World's subsequent announcement that
it would transfer U.S. operations to an American company. In addition,
CARMA analyzed online postings of February news of the deal and
historical coverage of port security in major U.S. newspaper coverage.
The analysis outlines what went wrong with DP World's public
management of the crisis and what they should have seen coming.


CARMA's research brief on the Dubai Ports deal can be found in its
Research Library at www.carma.com.


About CARMA International, Inc.


CARMA International, Inc. is the world leader in media research, with
an unmatched global presence and more than 20 years experience. This
background enables CARMA to provide clients a comprehensive,
integrated and consistent approach to global media measurement. Using
the most sophisticated proprietary software and the most specialized
research methodologies in the industry, CARMA analysts help PR
professionals maximize the effectiveness of their media outreach
efforts and provide strategic insights for future communications
planning. CARMA is a privately held company headquartered in
Washington, D.C., with offices in London, New Delhi, Paris, Sydney,
Santiago, Tokyo, and Toronto. Contact CARMA at 202.842.1818 or
www.carma.com.