Online Publishing Update* for June 27, 2008
Publicis Group Links Google, AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo Ad Systems
Publicis Group unveiled a new digital media advertising system that links together Google, AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo ad space and allows advertisers to buy ads across the companies. The new project, called the "Open-Source Audience On Demand Network," is the first from Publicis’ new VivaKi Nerve Center, which focuses on advertising technology, Reuters reported.
Sources: Reuters, The Wall Street Journal
ICANN Approves Proposal to Increase Domains
Thursday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers approved a plan that could create a huge number of “top-level domains”. “Businesses, for example, could use brand names such as .ibm or .ebay in their Web addresses. Cities could sign up for names like .nyc or .berlin. It will also be possible to apply to use more general terms, such as .news or .sports, to define sites associated with groups or categories of information,” The Wall Street Journal reported. The domains will come with a price tag of at least $100,000.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
American Airlines, Chrysler Test Wi-Fi
American Airlines will be testing out an in-flight Web connection with Aircell, The Los Angeles Times reported. American will charge between $9.95 and $12.95 for the service, depending on the length of the flight.
Car company Chrysler will make wireless Internet an option on all of its 2009 models through UConnect Web. Rental car company Avis already offers this option on some rental cars. Not surprisingly, safety experts are concerned and law makers are looking into legislating restrictions on surfing while driving.
Source: The Los Angeles Times
NYTimes.com, IHT.com May Merge
The New York Times will host an internationally-focused home page that may replace that of the International Herald Tribune. The move is part of a “bid to expand their global reach and deepen their appeal to advertisers,” The New York Times reported.
Source: The New York Times
AP’s Focus on Digital Media Causes Tension
Many newspaper executives are becoming frustrated with The Associated Press’ increasing focus on multimedia, especially because that AP content is going to online competitors such as Yahoo and Google.
The Wall Street Journal reported digital media outlets now account for 17 percent of AP’s revenue, and U.S. newspapers account for 27 percent.
“The diversification of its customer base has allowed the AP to bolster its newsgathering resources in areas like international news and finance at a time when the newspaper industry is downsizing,” according to the Journal. “But for many of the AP's newspaper members, this type of expansion is of little value. Most of the stories generated by the financial group wind up on sites like Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and CNNMoney.com.”
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Zillow’s Partnership with Newspapers Comes Online
Real estate Web site Zillow will roll out its partnership next week with The Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Richmond Times Dispatch next week. The newspapers will start selling featured listings for Zillow.com to people who are buying real estate classified ads. More newspapers, including most of those in the Yahoo newspaper consortium, and more co-branded features will launch later this year, Editor & Publisher reported.
Sources: The Local Onliner, Editor & Publisher
Quote of the Day: Holovaty on Programmers and Journalists
“I believe it’s easier for programmers to become journalists than it is for journalists to become programmers, but both sides need to gain an appreciation for the other in order for this sort of thing to happen more often. Fortunately, some news organizations are starting to hire developers with this in mind, and some geeks are realizing journalism is a great, (mostly) pure field that lets you improve the world through information.”
-- Adrian Holovaty, founder of EveryBlock, in a recent interview.
Mobile Ads Influence Young Adults
Mobile video and text ads are much more likely to influence young mobile users than older mobile users, eMarketer reported. Electronics purchases are the most influenced by this type of advertising among both 18 to 24 year olds and older adults, but younger mobile users are much more influenced in this category.
Source: eMarketer
MySpace, MSNBC.com, NBC News Host Contest to Find Citizen Journalists for Conventions
MySpace is hosting a contest with NBC News and MSNBC.com to find citizen journalists to cover the political conventions this fall. “Entrants, who must be MySpace members who are 18 years or older, must answer one of the following questions via a video submission: Why do you vote? Why are you the best person for this job? How will you stand out in the crowd and get the scoop no one else can?" CNet’s News.com reported. Entries opened at noon (PT) Thursday and close on July 16.
Source: CNet
Web Plays Significant Role for Campaign Information
Nearly half of Web-using Americans (46 percent) have used the Web, e-mail or text messaging to get news about political campaigns, share their views or mobilize other people, according to a new Pew Internet & American Life Project report. Also, more than one-third of survey respondents said they have watched political videos online, a significant increase from 2004. Ten percent said they have used social networking sites to get information or become involved in a campaign.
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project
U.K.’s Trinity Mirror Co. Launches YouTube Channels for Every Newspaper
The Trinity Mirror Co., which publishes several newspapers, is launching a YouTube channel for each one, The Editors Weblog reported. The newspaper’s editing systems upload video to YouTube automatically, eliminating the extra step for online producers.
Source: The Editors Weblog
*The Online Publishing Update is a thrice-weekly e-mail newsletter that is delivered to members of the Newspaper Association of America’s Digital Media Federation. It contains information about the latest in digital media that may be of interest to newspaper executives. It also frequently includes announcements on new NAA products and services.