Have you noted that Jack Fuller of the Chicago Tribune and other corporate media people have begun to talk about how it is time to charge for content? Below is a press release about the migration of the ink and paper U.S. News & World Report, complete with ads, to the Internet in a "print verbatim" version. While better than nothing, it still misses the essence of the media revolution that interactivity is bringing on. As the content online actually begins to be as complete as paper versions, and when it surpasses what is offered in print, this will certainly be the case. Here is one version of how this will work. US News and World Report is going online as "shovelware" with its format, ads, and content simply going digital. I think this will change as it is silly to believe that presenting onscreen information exactly as it looks on paper is really a step forward. The lack of interactivity and adaptation of content to the media is crude at best. What is happening here is that older folks with an almost insurmontable bias toward print cannot "SEE" or rather do not "use" the Internet. They are still "looking" at things. While looking at a magazine online fulfills reader expectations of what a magazine should look like, it will be cumbersome to navigate, and most will print it. If one has the money for a nice color printer, this is a very good solution. However, this is one of those McLuhan "rearview mirror" uses of technology. Eventually, the Internet version of the magazine will be something you "do" rather than "look at" and the need to present what works in print in an interactive media will pass. The first television programs were radio shows presented with a visual track. The first movies were books brought to the screen, and so it goes. I think there is money to be made with this methodology for a few years, but as the ink on paper biased boomers retire, the audience for publications like US News & World Report will want to "do" the content, or they will move to other content where the creators realize more of the potential of interactive media.

November 20, 2003 09:04 AM US Eastern Timezone U.S. News & World Report and Zinio Systems Partner to Create First Digital News Weekly BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2003--U.S. News & World Report and Zinio Systems, Inc., worldwide leader in digital magazine production, distribution and circulation, today announced an agreement to digitally produce and deliver the leading news magazine globally. The partnership represents the 80th digital title available from Zinio and the first digital weekly news magazine. On newsstands Nov. 24, the Dec. 1 issue of U.S. News & World Report will be available and distributed digitally on Nov. 22 at 12 p.m. EST. Digital subscriptions and single copies of U.S. News & World Report will be available at www.zinio.com. "U.S. News & World Report provides in-depth news coverage rich in editorial content, graphics and photos to 11.7 million readers weekly. By creating a digital edition, U.S. News will leverage its valuable print assets in a way that allows readers to conveniently receive their magazine and interact with the content," said Mike Edelhart, president and chief executive officer of Zinio Systems, Inc. Zinio's digital edition of U.S. News & World Report offers readers a user-friendly electronic edition of the magazine, instantly delivered to the desktop before it hits newsstands. The electronic version of the magazine offers the ability to zoom, search, hyperlink, highlight and make electronic notations in the magazine. Digital issues may include rich media in both editorial and advertising, allowing full audio, video and animation capabilities in a compelling environment where readers already are engaged with the content. "U.S. News & World Report is pleased to offer the first-ever news weekly available in a digital format," said William Holiber, publisher of U.S. News & World Report. "By partnering with Zinio, we are able to take part in a new publishing model that includes Zinio's extensive marketing support and digital circulation services. With unique circulation opportunities, U.S. News' digital edition offers readers new ways of interacting with our content." Since March 2002, Zinio has delivered more than 10 million digital magazines from popular titles, such as Business Week, MotorTrend, PC Magazine and Technology Review to nearly one million customers in more than 200 countries. The addition of U.S. News & World Report brings Zinio's stable of magazines to 80 titles from 30 leading publishers. Major partners include IDG, McGraw-Hill, Primedia, Reed Business Information, Technology Review Inc., U.S. News, VNU and Ziff-Davis.