While on the subject of business models, Joshua Karp in the US is experimenting with The Printed Blog, a daily round-up of aggregated blogposts printed and distributed for free.
It bills itself as “an independent media outlet that aggregates user-generated content from the Internet and publishes it twice daily via print. The result is a revolutionary newspaper that reads and functions like a web feed – yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience.
“The selection of content in The Printed Blog is based solely on the votes of readers and their geographic location. In such a way, The Printed Blog revolts against the top-down, ‘one size fits all’ model of newsprint, as we know it. Instead of one paper serving hundreds of thousands of people, as is often the case, The Printed Blog publishes hundreds or even thousands of highly-localized editions based on what a community declares is important to them. The papers are distributed to neighborhood pickup points in A.M. and P.M. editions, and will incorporate rapid turnaround reader comments.”
More details comes via a Chris Snyder piece in Wired:
The hope is that the hyperlocal content will attract local advertisers who can spend less to reach out to their target audience. Ads are relatively cheap in comparison ($15-$25) and the paper has already lined up a number of Chicago-based businesses for its debut. It will also host classified ads.
The first issue is expected to launch on Jan. 27, handed out at three CTA stations around Lincoln Park and Wicker Park in Chicago and one location in San Francisco. A New York edition is due out shortly.
While the cost of printing alone — not to mention two issues a day — seems daunting , Karp says he would surprised if he spends more than 15 thousand dollars on the entire production and distribution of the first paper.
There are currently nine people on staff, mostly unpaid interns. The printing is done on commercial printers located near each distribution point. Each 11×17-inch paper will be three pages, six sides in full color. And the ultimate goal is to automate the production process as far as aggregating the stories into the separate editions, with the ability for readers to vote on which blogs appear in the next issue.
Some bloggers — without betraying a hint of irony — have denied the paper of the right to republish their posts, but Karp says the overall response has been positive. What blogger or photographer would turn down an offer for more exposure, especially in the confines of a luxurious printed page?
“We’re not necessarily looking for the people who have a readership, we’re looking for compelling content in a variety of areas,” said Karp. “The person who’s an industry expert, the person who worked for a campaign and is blogging about it, the person who has some insight into our financial system, the person who has been a principal at a high school and has something to say about education.”
Others are already trying similar ideas, although perhaps not on the same scale. I’m thinking of the Flying Pickle for example, a local blog for the Korokoro, Maungaraki and Normandale Community of Wellington which publishes a round-up of online articles and comments in a print edition that’s delivered free to householders.
All Evolving Newsroom
Idea #355: aggregate blogs and print them
It bills itself as “an independent media outlet that aggregates user-generated content from the Internet and publishes it twice daily via print. The result is a revolutionary newspaper that reads and functions like a web feed – yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience.
“The selection of content in The Printed Blog is based solely on the votes of readers and their geographic location. In such a way, The Printed Blog revolts against the top-down, ‘one size fits all’ model of newsprint, as we know it. Instead of one paper serving hundreds of thousands of people, as is often the case, The Printed Blog publishes hundreds or even thousands of highly-localized editions based on what a community declares is important to them. The papers are distributed to neighborhood pickup points in A.M. and P.M. editions, and will incorporate rapid turnaround reader comments.”
More details comes via a Chris Snyder piece in Wired:
Others are already trying similar ideas, although perhaps not on the same scale. I’m thinking of the Flying Pickle for example, a local blog for the Korokoro, Maungaraki and Normandale Community of Wellington which publishes a round-up of online articles and comments in a print edition that’s delivered free to householders.