October 10, 2005 - DANA POINT, Calif. - ZUMA Press, Inc. the largest independent picture agency and wire service in the world, and Meximerica, a U.S-based Spanish-language newspaper publisher, joined forces this week to broaden the reach of Meximerica's content. The deal grants ZUMA worldwide rights to license the daily picture production of Meximerica's network of RUMBO daily newspapers. RUMBO's four editions (Houston, San Antonio, Austin and the Lower Rio Grande Valley) offer Mexican, U.S. and international news, as well as sports, entertainment and lifestyle features.

"ZUMA hit the ground running with RUMBO's content," said John Camarillo ZUMA's sales manager for Latin markets. "We've already syndicated RUMBO's essay on the search for Tia Rosa--the story about a family's failed attempts to reach their aunt Tia, a Guatemalan-American woman who was trapped in an attic following the floods in New Orleans. Prensa Libre, the Guatemalan daily, jumped on the coverage and ran it as cover story! This is the first of many such international sales we're sure to secure for RUMBO," he said.

Today's announcement with Meximerica is part of ZUMA's 2005 broader sales strategy that involves aggressively maximizing sales opportunities in the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American media markets, where exponential growth is projected. Key to this strategy's success is providing compelling, relevant content to these markets.

"I am very pleased to add RUMBO to the growing list of top newspapers ZUMA represents. Their content is a natural fit to Spanish language media, but I'm also confident our thousands of other media clients worldwide will appreciate their perspective and coverage too," said Scott Mc Kiernan, director and founder of ZUMA Press.

About RUMBO

RUMBO is published by Meximerica Media, a company founded in 2003 by a group of media professionals with extensive experience in newspaper publishing and the U.S. Hispanic market. The company is supported by a consortium of investors co-led by Pinto America Growth Fund L.P. of Houston and Rustic Canyon Partners of Los Angeles.

Pinto America Growth Fund L.P. affiliated with Cockrell Interests Inc. is a Texas-based private equity fund focused on companies serving the US Hispanic market and Rustic Canyon is a venture capital and private equity fund with strong ties to the media industry. It was established in 1999 to invest a portion of the funds created by the recapitalization of the Times Mirror Co (since acquired by Tribune Co.).

We exist to serve our readers, above all else. That means giving Hispanics a newspaper each day that is relevant to their lives. RUMBO stresses local and community news, on the one hand, and education, health, personal finance and other lifestyle "news you can use", on the other. RUMBO provides full national, international, sports and entertainment news, too, but always with the interests of our readers in mind, including expanded coverage from Mexico and the rest of Latin America.

Meximerica Media and RUMBO are independent of any political or economic interest. Every journalist and employee must adhere to the company's strict ethics policy against favors and even the appearance of a conflict of interest. By providing the most objective and relevant information possible, our goal is to help Latinos reinforce their share of the American dream.

About ZUMA Press

Founded in 1995 by photojournalists for photojournalists, ZUMA Press is now the world's largest independent press agency and wire service. ZUMA represents over 900 photographers worldwide and 30 of the best picture agencies around the globe, as well as over a dozen major newspapers. ZUMA photographers have won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer, World Press, Graphis, BOP and POY.

ZUMA properties include: DOUBLEtruck Magazine, the ultimate showcase of cutting-edge photojournalism; KONA Pictures, art and commerce with flair; zReportage.com, the high-end, elite photojournalism service; ZUMA Press, the premium wireservice for news, entertainment and sports pictures; and Keystone Picture Agency, the best visual history of the 20th century and beyond!