MEDIA: FT.com launches cuttings service for PROs

FT.com, The Financial Times' on-line operation, this week entered

the PR services sector with the launch of FTPro - a global news, search

and monitoring operation for the business market.

The product allows corporate PROs and other customers to decide which

sectors and companies they wish to track through the news media and then

scans 300 media sources from around the world to provide what it

describes as 'up-to- the-minute cuttings'.

A number of blue-chips and trade associations have already registered

with FTPro, including the Confederation of British Industry and the

Institute of Chartered Accountants.

The service, which is expected to be updated hourly, can be personalised

to deliver relevant articles on clients or sector competitors throughout

the day.

'Unlike a traditional cuttings service, users won't have to wait until

the end of the day to find out what's happening within the sector they

are interested in,' said FT Group head of comms Joanna

Manning-Cooper.

The company claimed this week that FTPro would make research faster and

simpler for busy PROs and executives who haven't got the time to search

endlessly through websites.

'Our competitor, Nexis Lexis, searches 1,200 sources, FTPro scans the

top 300. That's because this service is concerned with providing only

the most relevant information rather than the most complete,' said Nigel

Stockton, FT Group head of partnership and alliances .

The cost of FTPro to its customers depends on the amount of users within

each company, as well as the type of service selected. Customers can

choose between European and World Pro with the price varying

accordingly.

Once the registration fee is paid, however, there are no additional

search costs.

'We've taken the "all you can eat" approach,' said Manning- Cooper.

FT.com chief operating officer Zach Leonard said: 'This is the latest in

a phased line of paid-for services from FT.com.'