WASHINGTON — The future — as well as the current — direction of individualized news came under the microscope last week as proponents gathered at The Washington Times to discuss the concept at the third annual Individuated News Conference.
The meeting, backed by MediaNews Group and The Times, examined ventures already under way, but also took a close look at the potential challenges faced by media organizations as they evaluate the delivery of hyper-customized news and information.
“It’s the media franchise of the future,” said Peter Vandevanter, MNG’s vice president of targeted products.
Vandevanter highlighted the contrast between last year’s conference, which was largely based on concepts, and this year’s meeting, which boasted five individuated products in the marketplace.
Among those products: MNG’s I-News; The Washington Times’ customized newsweekly; the Knight Foundation’s Printcasting; PersonalNews in Switzerland and Time Inc.’s mine magazine.
“By the end of [last year’s conference] we were debating whether the first individuated news products would be printed on a digital press, or on a home printer — and as I remember it, the group was divided about 50-50,” Vandevanter said. “This year we start with actual products to show and discuss — real market-tested products. And two of them are printed on toner-based digital presses, one on an inkjet press and one on a home printer. So we were all right last year.”
There are no “wrong answers” when it comes to individuated newspapers, Vandevanter said, because products can inhabit any platform, including e-readers, PDAs and PCs.
“Individuated news is platform-agnostic, let’s be clear about that,” he said. “As long as the platform is digital.”
The INC was co-sponsored by Acrisoft, Océ and News & Tech.
Visit http://www.newsandtech.com/NewsonDemand0709.pdf to see our special supplement covering the event. The supplement, News On Demand, will also be included in the July issue of News & Tech.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Washington Times to launch national print edition
WASHINGTON – The Washington Times said it will launch a national edition this fall.
Executive Editor John Solomon said the paper is currently evaluating print sites, but said the national edition would likely run about 36 pages Monday through Friday.
Solomon said that he expects The Times will be able to compete successfully against other national papers such as USA Today and The New York Times because of The Times’ Washington perspective.
More details about The Times plans will be disclosed within the next few weeks, Solomon told News & Tech.
Executive Editor John Solomon said the paper is currently evaluating print sites, but said the national edition would likely run about 36 pages Monday through Friday.
Solomon said that he expects The Times will be able to compete successfully against other national papers such as USA Today and The New York Times because of The Times’ Washington perspective.
More details about The Times plans will be disclosed within the next few weeks, Solomon told News & Tech.
MediaNews first group to partner with Printcasting
WASHINGTON – Printcasting said its publishing software platform will be used by MediaNews Group to support the creation of niche products. MNG is the first publishing group to agree to use Printcasting’s platform, which was initially launched earlier this year at The Bakersfield Californian.
In addition, Printcasting said it established new city Web sites, in MNG markets Denver, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Boulder, Colo., to enable residents to create their own Printcasting publications.
Meantime, Printcasting founder Dan Pacheco said the initiative is also ready to roll out a mobile version of its publishing platform. Finally, Pacheco outlined a 60/30/10 revenue-sharing model in which a Printcasting publisher would keep 60 percent of ad revenues collected from companies marketing their services through niche publications. Content providers would receive 30 percent while Printcasting would collect the remainder.
The Knight Foundation-backed Printcasting allows anyone to be a publisher by tying online content to templates that can be printed or viewed on the Web and mobile devices.
In addition, Printcasting said it established new city Web sites, in MNG markets Denver, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Boulder, Colo., to enable residents to create their own Printcasting publications.
Meantime, Printcasting founder Dan Pacheco said the initiative is also ready to roll out a mobile version of its publishing platform. Finally, Pacheco outlined a 60/30/10 revenue-sharing model in which a Printcasting publisher would keep 60 percent of ad revenues collected from companies marketing their services through niche publications. Content providers would receive 30 percent while Printcasting would collect the remainder.
The Knight Foundation-backed Printcasting allows anyone to be a publisher by tying online content to templates that can be printed or viewed on the Web and mobile devices.
Ifra, WAN to merge operations
As News & Tech reported June 8, Ifra and the World Association of Newspapers have agreed to merge into a single organization, effective July 1.
The new group, called the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) will represent more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 Web sites and more than 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries.
The merged organization said it will retain current headquarters in Paris and Darmstadt, Germany, and WAN CEO Timothy Balding and Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach will retain their current positions through 2009. A permanent CEO will be hired next year.
WAN President Gavin O’Reilly, Group CEO of Dublin-based Independent News and Media, will serve as president of the new organization through 2010. He’ll be succeeded by Horst Pirker, president of Ifra and CEO of Styria Medien AG in Austria.
The new group, called the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) will represent more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 Web sites and more than 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries.
The merged organization said it will retain current headquarters in Paris and Darmstadt, Germany, and WAN CEO Timothy Balding and Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach will retain their current positions through 2009. A permanent CEO will be hired next year.
WAN President Gavin O’Reilly, Group CEO of Dublin-based Independent News and Media, will serve as president of the new organization through 2010. He’ll be succeeded by Horst Pirker, president of Ifra and CEO of Styria Medien AG in Austria.
N&O launches self-service obits
The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., launched self-service advertising for obituaries using Wave2's iPublish AdPortal.
The site allows funeral home directors to build their own obits anytime, using a credit card or account billing.
"The reception to self-service by the funeral directors was immediate,” said Gary Smith, vice president of classified advertising at The N&O. “We're now looking at other ad types like template-based real estate or retail ads, as well as self-service retail applications we can run on the same iPublish AdPortal system."
The N&O expects the system to pay for itself in the first year through production and makegood savings, Wave2 said.
Look for more information about how publishers are leveraging self-service advertising in the July issue of News & Tech.
The site allows funeral home directors to build their own obits anytime, using a credit card or account billing.
"The reception to self-service by the funeral directors was immediate,” said Gary Smith, vice president of classified advertising at The N&O. “We're now looking at other ad types like template-based real estate or retail ads, as well as self-service retail applications we can run on the same iPublish AdPortal system."
The N&O expects the system to pay for itself in the first year through production and makegood savings, Wave2 said.
Look for more information about how publishers are leveraging self-service advertising in the July issue of News & Tech.
Verve partners with 4 newspaper groups
Verve Wireless announced partnerships with MediaNews Group, A.H. Belo Corp. Hearst Corp., and Cox Newspapers to allow them to send their news and information to mobile users.
The pact will let readers of such properties as The Denver Post, The Dallas Morning News, Palm Beach (Fla.) Post and Seattle Post-Intelligencer receive news on their phones, Verve said.
Verve also rolled out a platform enhancement that automatically creates a version of the publisher’s site for the new Safari browser on Apple iPhones, as well as provides mobile video delivery support across the other smart phone devices.
The iPhone module incorporates elements from the Associated Press’ Mobile News Network iPhone app.
The pact will let readers of such properties as The Denver Post, The Dallas Morning News, Palm Beach (Fla.) Post and Seattle Post-Intelligencer receive news on their phones, Verve said.
Verve also rolled out a platform enhancement that automatically creates a version of the publisher’s site for the new Safari browser on Apple iPhones, as well as provides mobile video delivery support across the other smart phone devices.
The iPhone module incorporates elements from the Associated Press’ Mobile News Network iPhone app.
MinnPost.com launches new ad feature
Online news site MinnPost.com beefed up its advertising operations by launching Real-Time Ads, a service that lets advertisers update their ad messages with content from other sites such as Twitter.
“Very simply, our goal is to create a fast-paced marketplace, full of advertisers’ messages that are newly posted and thus up-to-date, so that readers will want to keep coming back to check out what’s happening,” said Joel Kramer, editor and CEO of MinnPost.com.
“Very simply, our goal is to create a fast-paced marketplace, full of advertisers’ messages that are newly posted and thus up-to-date, so that readers will want to keep coming back to check out what’s happening,” said Joel Kramer, editor and CEO of MinnPost.com.
Dallas Morning News launches online directory
The Dallas Morning News launched a business service directory based on search software from Local.com.
“Our service directory will connect consumers to the right businesses for the job,” said Fran Willis, The Morning News’ senior vice president for interactive and marketing. “At the same time, it will create opportunities for small- and medium-size businesses to reach customers effectively and affordably.”
“Our service directory will connect consumers to the right businesses for the job,” said Fran Willis, The Morning News’ senior vice president for interactive and marketing. “At the same time, it will create opportunities for small- and medium-size businesses to reach customers effectively and affordably.”
QIPC gets Chinese order
Q.I. Press Controls said it will supply automatic register control equipment to China’s Xinhua News Agency Printing.
QIPC will install a total of 36 IRS cameras on a Seiken 65 press operated by the agency. Xinhua also has QIPC equipment installed on four other presses at its print facility, which produces more than 30 newspapers.
The project will be completed this summer, QIPC said.
QIPC will install a total of 36 IRS cameras on a Seiken 65 press operated by the agency. Xinhua also has QIPC equipment installed on four other presses at its print facility, which produces more than 30 newspapers.
The project will be completed this summer, QIPC said.
2009 Web Offset award winners announced
The Web Offset Association handed out Print Awards to a number of newspaper printers, including The News Review in Roseburg, Ore., Tribune Publishing Co., Evergreen Printing Co. and Transcontinental Inc.
Other award recipients included Action Printing, Alliance Press Inc., Bartash Printing, Butler Color Press, Color Web Printers, Creel Printing, Dome Printing, Dynagraf Inc., Expedi Printing Inc., Gateway Packaging, Journal Graphics, Ripon Printers, Southeast Media, Star Press, Teldon Print Media, Western Web and Wright Graphics.
The 2009 contest was sponsored by Central Ink Corp., Flint Group, Goss International Corp., INX International Ink Co., Kodak, Manugraph DGM, Prime UV Systems and US Ink.
Other award recipients included Action Printing, Alliance Press Inc., Bartash Printing, Butler Color Press, Color Web Printers, Creel Printing, Dome Printing, Dynagraf Inc., Expedi Printing Inc., Gateway Packaging, Journal Graphics, Ripon Printers, Southeast Media, Star Press, Teldon Print Media, Western Web and Wright Graphics.
The 2009 contest was sponsored by Central Ink Corp., Flint Group, Goss International Corp., INX International Ink Co., Kodak, Manugraph DGM, Prime UV Systems and US Ink.
NYT pitching Globe, Telegram?
The New York Times reported that the company wants to sell both The Boston Globe and the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass., in a packaged deal.
New York Times Co. declined to comment on the report, which was based on a confidential letter from Goldman Sachs, the publisher’s investment bankers.
The letter set a July 8 deadline for initial bids.
New York Times Co. declined to comment on the report, which was based on a confidential letter from Goldman Sachs, the publisher’s investment bankers.
The letter set a July 8 deadline for initial bids.
Fuji greening up in Greenwood
Fujifilm Corp. today announced that its primary U.S. manufacturing complex, located in Greenwood, S.C., began using methane gas from a local community landfill to power approximately 40 percent of its operations. Company officials joined local government leaders and guests to celebrate the project’s completion at the Greenwood County Landfill. Fuji first announced that it would begin taking steps to reduce greenhouse emissions at its facilities worldwide in 2007 (see News & Tech, September 2007). In the United States, the company aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2012.
In Brief
In Brief
The Denver Newspaper Agency named Kirk MacDonald vice president of sales, marketing and digital sales. He formerly served as president and CEO of the agency between 2000 and 2006.
Eastman Kodak Co. named Joel Seligman, the president of the University of Rochester, to the company's board of directors, effective July 1.
CGS Publishing Technologies International said Fujifilm Canada will begin selling CGS’ Oris software in Canada.
www.cgs-oris.com
www.fujigraphics.com
Quincy (Ill.) Newspapers Inc. deployed videoconferencing systems from LifeSize HD to reduce travel expenses.
www.lifesize.com
Mediaspace Solutions said it is teaming up with software developer Kaesu to launch a set of small business applications. The companies’ CoolerAds Business Tools will allow local businesses to manage their print and online ad campaigns, the firms said.
www.mediaspacesolutions.com
www.kaesu.com
WoodWing is integrating software from eZ Systems, a Norway-based developer, to enable customers to deliver content across multiple platforms. eZ’s eZ Publish stores content in generic XML. The software is now part of WoodWing’s Enterprise Content Publishing Platform through a plug-in extension, WoodWing said.
www.woodwing.com
PuzzleFlow Solutions USA released WebPairer 3.0. The app builds on PuzzleFlow Automator, which helps newspapers automate prepress operations to cut costs.
www.puzzleflow.us
Yahoo Inc. launched self-service advertising service My Display Ads, using software from Seattle-based AdReady. Advertisers can create and customize campaigns from more than 800 display templates and can also elect CPM or CPC-based pricing.
http://mydisplayads.yahoo.com
Protecmedia said German Media group Verlagsgruppe Rhein Main will install its Milenium Cross Media multichannel editorial software in January.
www.protecmedia.com
GateHouse Media launched Cape Cod Day, a daily newspaper serving the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. The paper will be produced through the summer, with a 25,000-copy press run.
The Santa Barbara (Calif.) News-Press tapped CIPS Marketing Group to distribute its advertising TMC program, News-Press Direct.
Harland-Simon said it completed a press control expansion and reconfiguration project at Archant Print in the United Kingdom. The project included bringing all of the press units and folders under a single control point.
www.harlandsimon.com
The Denver Newspaper Agency named Kirk MacDonald vice president of sales, marketing and digital sales. He formerly served as president and CEO of the agency between 2000 and 2006.
Eastman Kodak Co. named Joel Seligman, the president of the University of Rochester, to the company's board of directors, effective July 1.
CGS Publishing Technologies International said Fujifilm Canada will begin selling CGS’ Oris software in Canada.
www.cgs-oris.com
www.fujigraphics.com
Quincy (Ill.) Newspapers Inc. deployed videoconferencing systems from LifeSize HD to reduce travel expenses.
www.lifesize.com
Mediaspace Solutions said it is teaming up with software developer Kaesu to launch a set of small business applications. The companies’ CoolerAds Business Tools will allow local businesses to manage their print and online ad campaigns, the firms said.
www.mediaspacesolutions.com
www.kaesu.com
WoodWing is integrating software from eZ Systems, a Norway-based developer, to enable customers to deliver content across multiple platforms. eZ’s eZ Publish stores content in generic XML. The software is now part of WoodWing’s Enterprise Content Publishing Platform through a plug-in extension, WoodWing said.
www.woodwing.com
PuzzleFlow Solutions USA released WebPairer 3.0. The app builds on PuzzleFlow Automator, which helps newspapers automate prepress operations to cut costs.
www.puzzleflow.us
Yahoo Inc. launched self-service advertising service My Display Ads, using software from Seattle-based AdReady. Advertisers can create and customize campaigns from more than 800 display templates and can also elect CPM or CPC-based pricing.
http://mydisplayads.yahoo.com
Protecmedia said German Media group Verlagsgruppe Rhein Main will install its Milenium Cross Media multichannel editorial software in January.
www.protecmedia.com
GateHouse Media launched Cape Cod Day, a daily newspaper serving the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. The paper will be produced through the summer, with a 25,000-copy press run.
The Santa Barbara (Calif.) News-Press tapped CIPS Marketing Group to distribute its advertising TMC program, News-Press Direct.
Harland-Simon said it completed a press control expansion and reconfiguration project at Archant Print in the United Kingdom. The project included bringing all of the press units and folders under a single control point.
www.harlandsimon.com
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