AOL Executives Tim Armstrong, Arianna Huffington to Discuss Merger, New Media at National Press Club

July 15 discussion comes amid major changes at AOL and in online media

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Less than six months since the biggest merger in online news history, AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong and Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington appear together to discuss the deal, its aftermath and the future of journalism at a National Press Club luncheon on July 15.

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Since its $315 million purchase of Huffington Post in February, AOL has hired some of the biggest names in journalism while simultaneously eliminating the jobs of hundreds of full and part-time writers, editors and other employees across the country.

Along with remaking its own business, AOL is reshaping the entire news industry with outlets such as Patch, Huffington Post and AOL specialty brands such as AOL Energy, AOL Defense and the planned AOL Government.

AOL can now boast a news staff is as large as that of the New York Times, and recently Huffington Post surpassed the Times in unique monthly online visitors for the first time ever.

As chairman and CEO, Tim Armstrong is responsible for setting strategy and overseeing the businesses and day-to-day operations of AOL. He joined the company in April 2009 from Google, were he had been in charge of Google's North American advertising sales. Eight months after joining AOL, he took it public with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Armstrong began his media career by starting and running a newspaper before quickly moving to the Internet, where he oversaw sales and marketing at Disney's ABC/ESPN Internet businesses.

Arianna Huffington is president and editor-in-chief of AOL's new Huffington Post Media Group, which includes the Huffington Post, AOL Media and AOL Local Properties. Her life has crisscrossed the worlds of politics and media. She has been both a conservative and liberal commentator, an independent candidate for governor in California and is the ex-wife of a former Republican congressman. In addition to penning 13 books, she also worked as a radio and television show host before launching her namesake Web site in May 2005.

The July 15 Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.  Remarks by Armstrong and Huffington will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance reservations should be made through (202) 662-7501 or [email protected]. Luncheon admission is $18 for National Press Club members, $29 for their guests, and $36 for the general public. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on press.org.  Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC). Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter.  Or email a question in advance, type AOL in the subject line and send to [email protected].

The Press Club is on the 13th floor, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Credentialed press may cover this event.

About the National Press Club the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,400 members worldwide representing every major news organization. More than 250,000 people visit the Club each year to attend more than 2,000 events. The Club was founded in 1908 and is on the web at press.org.

SOURCE National Press Club