Newspaper Industry Ad Revenue at 1965 Levels (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Columbia Journalism Review ^ | August 19, 2009 | Ryan Chittum

[TChad]

Wouldn’t it be fascinating if the Wash Times tried to create an e-edition that appealed to FReepers?

They could produce e-editions customized for particular audiences, heavy on news in user-selected categories. That could work very well. I would also like to see a short edition that would format correctly for laser printout on 8.5x14 paper. I already spend too much time looking at computer monitors, I want to hold my newspaper in my hands. For the moment I can still do that, but in the future? A 20 page user-printable edition with news and other features from the categories I selected would be about right, maybe 30 pages on the weekends.

Or is that the Wash Examiner?

The Washington Examiner has certainly signed on a lot of great columnists. Unfortunately I can't buy it here, but I can usually buy the Washington Times. Both papers have e-editions.

[GeronL]

They already have a machine that prints on plain paper and staples them together that puts out 20 page papers for around a buck at some colleges and stuff... or just being tested... let me see if I can google it... there was also a machine that prints books on demand

[GeronL]

http://www.aardvarknet.info/access/number67/othernews.cfm?othernews=09

here is a book version I found

[GeronL]

Probably cost a few bucks in those days

[GeronL]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thorpus/1860099398/

[TChad]

Thanks for the posts. In trying to learn more about your newspaper vending machine that prints 250 papers, I found this:

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

[TChad]

I may sign up for pressdisplay, after I wade through their Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Still, what I really want is a downloadable pre-formatted little printable paper, perhaps in PDF format, something I can print myself. My laser printer can easily handle the load. I have a heavy duty stapler, and I can find cheap paper. I would like for the printout to look good, and I don't want to waste time formatting it myself.

Better than looking at a Kindle. At least I would like the choice.

[GeronL]

Those kiosk things were around that did that but I don’t know if their still in business. Did you see the flikr image of the kiosk I posted a link to?

It does exactly what you are asking but its dollars per copy from that source.

Maybe we should think about software.

What if we could get a program that could download news. opinion and stuff you’re interested in and print it for you before you wake up?

for example:
Things from the Wash Times, NY Post, UK Telegaph, maybe your favorite blogs and put them together and print them each morning. I think a desktop machine that could do that as well as be your regular printer/copier/fax would sell like hotcakes.

I don’t think I’d want to pay to see a newspaper online. I foten check out the front pages, which is free there though

[GeronL]

Here is a Jet Aviation service that does it for their customers.

http://www.jetaviation.com/index.php/latestnews/618

The technology to do this at home exists, somebody just has to be able to get it to market and make it happen.

[TChad]

Did you see the flikr image of the kiosk I posted a link to?

Yes, and it would be better than nothing, but probably fairly expensive.

Maybe we should think about software.

Of course you are right, this is all about software. The subscriber checks boxes next to keywords describing which types of news he wants to receive, or enters his own keywords. All news content is scanned and perhaps tagged with keywords. The software then chooses the content that best matches the subscriber's priorities, selects an amount of content that can be printed in the desired printout space, formats the content attractively in a PDF file, and emails or otherwise makes the PDF available to the subscriber.

I think a desktop machine that could do that as well as be your regular printer/copier/fax would sell like hotcakes.

I suppose this could work with a specialized large format printer. I was thinking more of using existing printers, but if many people started printing their own papers, they would demand specialized printers.

I suspect that most users might actually prefer to use Kindles or something similar, to save on printing costs. However if the news can be specially packaged and formatted for a Kindle, it can also be packaged and formatted for a printer.

This has been interesting, but I have to call it a night.

[GeronL]

Yes, I bet someone who is smart could do that too. does a Kindle have a USB port? wait its wireless, lol!

I was also thinking its probably possible on existing printers too. The one sitting next to me has fax/copy capabilities

[RJL]

magazines and newspapers, the critical providers of original reporting

Still delusional.

Well they're repeating original Democrat talking points, that's almost the same as original reporting.