CORUS ENTERTAINMENT FUNDS CHAIR IN COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY, WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAM

TORONTO, September 5, 2002 -- A $2-million gift from Canadian media and entertainment company Corus Entertainment will fund a chair in communications strategy at the University of Toronto's Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. The company will also fund a scholarship at the Rotman School in memory of late Toronto businesswoman Judy Elder, who died in March.

The chair, known as the Corus Entertainment Chair in Communications Strategy, will investigate the recent trends towards convergence in the Canadian media and how, in the emerging knowledge economy, there is a critical need for Canadian media companies to look beyond their own borders and compete globally. Helping Canada understand these changes and position itself in the global new world order will be at the heart of the chair's work.

Toronto, with the fourth-largest media concentration in North America, is among the fastest growing regions in terms of software development. The region's information technology and telecommunications cluster - a mixture of software, communications, advertising, media and entertainment industries - ranks ahead of both New York and Los Angeles.

"Over the past two years we've seen some incredible highs and lows in the communications sector," says Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management. "It is vital that we come to understand how information technology and communications will lead new economies. In many ways, companies are still coming to grips with how these technologies will not only affect their organizations, but challenge many long-held practices. The research the Corus chair produces will establish the Rotman School as a leader in this field."

In addition to supporting the chair in communications-sector strategy, Corus is also one of the founding partners of the Judy Elder Program for the Advancement of Women in Organizational Leadership at the Rotman School. Elder, the former general manager of the consumer products division of Microsoft Canada, died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 48. The Elder program, which will be launched in spring 2003, will address the need to promote women to top leadership positions.

"We are pleased to be able to fund a chair that will study the entire communications sector," says John M. Cassaday, president and chief executive officer of Corus Entertainment Inc. "As a relatively new company, Corus has been fortunate to both be involved in and challenged by a rapidly changing marketplace. We were able to successfully navigate those early days when it seemed like each new day brought about a series of changes throughout the entire communications spectrum. The research and learning from this new Corus Entertainment Chair in communications strategy will help other companies navigate the challenges of this exciting industry.

"We're also thrilled that we will be able to support a student through the Judy Elder Program," he adds. "Judy's influence, passion and drive are all qualities we look for in our own organization and in our commitment to advance women in leadership roles across our industry. By supporting the program named after her, we hope we are continuing her tradition of being a positive support for women in business."

Cassaday, who earned his MBA in 1981 from what was then known as the Faculty of Management at U of T, has received a number of honours from the university including the Arbor Award for voluntarism and the Rotman School's Most Distinguished Alumni Award, where he is currently chair of the Rotman Advancement Board. He is a member of the Business Council on National Issues, serves on the boards of St. Michael's Hospital, Manulife Financial, Loblaw Companies Limited, Masonite International Corporation and the Nestle Canada Advisory Board. He is also a former chair of the United Way Campaign for Metro Toronto.

Corus Entertainment is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and products. The company's other interests include music, television, broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York Exchanges (CJR). Corus' Web site can be found at www.corusentertainment.com.

The University of Toronto's Joseph L. Rotman School of Management offers leading-edge research and degree programs, including the prestigious Rotman MBA, the Rotman Part-Time MBA, the One-Year MBA for Executives, a first-rate Doctoral program, the distinctive Master of Management & Professional Accounting program, the undergraduate Commerce program in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Science, combined programs with the University of Toronto faculties of Law, Engineering and Nursing, and an innovative series of Executive Programs tailored to the current needs of businesses and individual managers.

  
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Alan Webber: 

Ken McGuffin  
Media Relations Officer  
Rotman School of Management 
Voice:  (416) 946-3818  
Fax:   (416) 978-1373 
E-mail:  mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca  

Greer Hozack, MBA’99 
Co-chair Unilever Speaker Series 
Rotman School of Management 
Voice: (416) 538-3886 
E-mail: Greer_Hozack@embanet.com