Madison, Wisconsin - (The Hosting News) - May 23, 2008 - Automated rich media communications technology firm, Sonic Foundry, Inc., has released the winners of its Fourth Annual Rich Media Impact Awards, at a user conference.

Organizations recognized for excellence in the practical and creative integration of Mediasite, were given a special awards dinner during UNLEASH 2008, the second annual Mediasite user conference.

Rimas Buinevicius, Chairman and CEO of Sonic Foundry noted, ''We congratulate the winners and thank them for the important role they play in setting the standard for what can be accomplished with Mediasite. What these organizations are doing to advance rich media is admirable and we are proud to honor them for their contribution.''

Launched to recognize excellence in the practical and creative integration of its webcasting platform in education, business, health and government, the awards honor organizations that have demonstrated measurable improvements in accessibility, cost savings, efficiency and productivity through Mediasite.

Excellence in Education Award recognizes a higher education institution that enhanced learning and outreach through rich media. The 2008 winner is Technische Universiteit Delft - Netherlands.

Enterprise Award: recognizes an organization who improved its business outcomes through rich media communication. The 2008 winner is Prudential Financial.

Facility Design Award: recognizes a professional AV design or consulting firm that created innovative rich media rooms and facilities. The 2008 winner is Shen Milsom and Wilke for the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Global Reach Award: recognizes any successful initiative that reached the international community through rich media. The 2008 winner is Rush University Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology.

Government Award: recognizes a local, state or federal government initiative that implemented rich media for training and outreach. The 2008 winner is the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission.

Healthcare Award: recognizes an organization that implemented rich media to benefit health and wellness. The 2008 winner is Johns Hopkins Center for Clinical Global Health Education.

Rapid ROI Award: recognizes an organization that used rich media to quickly achieve a measurable ROI in its training, communications or outreach initiatives. The 2008 winner is the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Educational Technologies.

Scholastic Achievement Award: recognizes a school district or other organization serving the K-12 educational community that harnessed the power of rich media to improve communication, learning and outreach. The 2008 winner is Memphis City Schools.

Sonic Foundry's Mediasite has set the standard as a transformational communication medium for delivering critical information and sharing knowledge. The patented Mediasite webcasting and content management system quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery and search of rich media presentations that combine audio, video and accompanying graphics for live or on-demand viewing.

Founded in 1991, Sonic Foundry provides rich media communications and knowledge management, providing enterprise solutions and services that link an information-driven world. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company has received numerous awards including the 2007 Frost and Sullivan Global Market Leadership Award, Ziff Davis Media's Baseline Magazine's sixth fastest-growing software company with sales under $150 million and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500. Named a Bersin and Associates 2007 Learning Leader, Sonic Foundry's webcasting and knowledge management solutions are trusted by education institutions, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies for a variety of critical communication needs.

To learn more, please visit: www.sonicfoundry.com.