NONE: Re: ONLINE-ADS>> future of newspaper websites
Re: ONLINE-ADS>> future of newspaper websites
GWIN (markm_at_gwin.net)
Wed, 12 Aug 1998 13:46:24 -0500 (CDT)
David H Dennis <david_at_amazing.com> wrote:
>I think the present web demographic is in people who would really rather
>see their news as print, because print gives more room for story details,
>analysis and commentary. That's certainly how I see news.
>
>So if you already have an audience, I don't see it going away even if video
>on the web becomes more feasible.
We have been testing and developing a twice daily (plus breaking)
news links and commentary product for the past 18 months. We
now filter articles for relevancy with experienced analysts in over
100 online publications regularly, most of which are online versions
(but not all) of pre-existing quality publications or productions.
One of the things that I've noticed about the convergence of mediums
is that those mediums making the transition bring their own unique
strengths with them which are then added to by the functionality
of the medium. What's happening is the experimentation of the
technology in the appropriate situation or story. The Harvard Business
Review allows me to buy an article quickly and cheaply online,
that ads value by saving our busy subscribers time. MSNBC provides
an interactive report on the Asian crisis with audio/video or both, and
you can buy reports by the Gartner Group at Broadcast.com. In another
hour, Avie Glazer will make his case in a WSJ event, and at 3AM tomorrow
morning we will be reviewing hard information from Australia, South Africa,
India, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Europe looking for value, primarily
in text, and we are happy to have it.
An interview in a newspaper publication that can offer audio is a
natural and the use of video or functional graphics can really add to a
story. The problem of course is the feasibility of free. Interesting that
despite the common perception, we are seeing more and more employ
both subscriptions and advertising, despite the broad reporting. Frankly,
I don't want to see just those with the biggest bucks survive because
I'm not certain society can withstand what happened to US TV. That
philosophy is built in to our network affiliate agreement. I'm too
experienced in business to think that a quality medium will survive
by accident.
What we are likely to see however is a consolidation of global
news that is not geographic or topic specific. We see similar stories
being run on dozens of sites with very little product differentiation
and frankly try to avoid them in our service because they have
little value. I think we will continue to see rapid evolution of
traditional publications converting to the use of audio-video, applets,
and functional programs that only the Net allows. Those that are
focused on quality journalism will continue to view each story with
the intent on enhanced experiential value while those that
sensationalize, in for example broadcast TV, will no doubt also find a
home.
When the reasons for not employing the technology are erased,
such as prohibitive cost or proprietary conflicts, there will
be no reason not to use multi-media capabilities, even for previously
"pure" text journals. As in all things tech-wise, it's the way the beast
is used that matters.
Mark Montgomery
Founder
Global Web Interactive Network
http://gwin.net
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