Bertelsmann has just published its Corporate Responsibility Report 2005. Entitled “Diversity and Responsibility,” the report provides an extensive account of the media company’s commitment to its employees, to society, and to the environment. The new report follows in the tradition of the Social Report which the company has published since 1974. This year’s report is more comprehensive than ever before and is issued for the first time in four languages: It is available in print and digital form in German and English; French and Spanish versions will be published in digital form. The report may be downloaded at www.bertelsmann.com/responsibility

At the heart of the report are the Bertelsmann Essentials, the company’s fundamental values. The importance of these guiding principles is underscored in an essay by Reinhard Mohn, Bertelsmann’s post-war founder and the founder of the Bertelsmann Stiftung foundation. Celebrity photographer Jim Rakete shot a photo spread to illustrate the Essentials. The report also describes the historic beginnings of Bertelsmann’s commitment to responsibility and the company’s first stakeholder survey. It further discusses the responsibility that media companies have for the content they create.

Additional information on Bertelsmann’s corporate responsibility activities is posted at www.bertelsmann.com/responsibility. You may order a printed copy of the report by sending an e-mail to corporate.responsibility@bertelsmann.com

About Bertelsmann AG
The media company Bertelsmann commands globally leading positions in the major markets. Its core business is the creation of first-class media content. Bertelsmann includes RTL Group, Europe’s No.1 in television and radio, as well as the world’s biggest book-publishing group, Random House. Gruner + Jahr, the European No.1 in magazine publishing and the BMG music division – comprised of the Sony BMG joint venture and BMG Music Publishing – also stand for creativity and powerful brands. The Arvato division comprises the group’s media and communication services, Bertelsmann’s direct-to-customer businesses are bundled in Direct Group.

Visit www.CorporateRegister.com to access this publication together with a further 11,000 CSR reports.