Newspaper & Magazines

News N widgets id t ffrom th the WWashington hi t PPost. t
as XML objects in new HTML windows. Na -
vigation and search functions running alongside
the newspaper page allow comfortable
full text searches of the actual and archived
issues. Furthermore, any page can be downloaded
and printed either as a PDF file where
text can also be copied, or less frequently as a
JPEG file (loupe function).
Additionally e-papers compete with globally
distributed digital printing of newspapers.
However, in this setting they do not serve as
PDF print files because image resolution is
too low and content as well as advertising of
international print editions is typically modified.
New: Nevertheless, Handelsblatt-Verlag de -
monstrated that an interesting synthesis is
possible between these two scenarios. Their
first step, eight, left corner stapled, A4 digital
prints, containing the most important articles
of the evening edition are distributed to
Lufthansa and Star Alliance business class
passengers. This philosophy has been replicated
on their web site, where a HTML ticker,
actualized every minute, lists key headlines
with direct links to the complete text. The ticker
headlines can be downloaded as an onthe-fly
generated four page PDF file with editorial
columns. Depending upon the time of
download, articles on the PDF tickers change
to accommodate breaking news.
New: Multiple topics of e-papers or news
portals can be combined within the Internet
appearance. These groupings of articles
from diverse sources and newspapers are
known as special interest platforms. Exclusive
charts and graphics, advice and other services
are maintained on these platforms.
News Feeds and
Widgets
Not only does XML technology allow for
blogs, but it also automatically supplies
blogs and websites with current
information, text, and photos from publishers’
information sites. This licensed news
circulation (either free or per paid subscrip -
tion) is called syndication or news feed. The
enabling XML tool is called RSS Feed (Really
Simple Syndication). The received informati -
on can be further linked, but may not appear
in any print media other than that of the original
publisher. Modern Internet browsers include
RSS reader functions as well as smart
phones such as the Apple iPhone, enabling
digital newspapers to reach mobile remote
clients.
New: To push news syndication, more and
more publishers are changing their unimpressive
RSS subscription buttons to so
called news widgets. Widgets are miniature
desktop applications in button format for tuning
personal computer GUIs: e.g. calendars,
analog watches or weather forecasts. News
widgets work similarly: graphically designed
buttons can be easily transferred from the
newspaper website and assume the graphic
look and feel of a user’s favorite websites or
blogs. Like the RSS buttons, news widgets
link to particular topics.
Whether widget or RSS button, syndication
even allows users to generate a messaging
service for their news feeds. For example,
news pertaining to a particular topic can be
forwarded via email subscription newsletter
to a PC or mobile phone.
PRINT
Web W 2.0 – Blogs,
Openness, O No Barriers
Web 2.0 is the result of the Internet
Wdeveloping from a conglomerate
Wof Wcomputer
Wc
unorganized pages to a complex
platform. More and diverse applications
p and data are openly provided for
users, u and of greater importance are being
generated g by users themselves. Internet
users u are no longer passive consumers but
part p of a collective intelligence, generating
content c as bloggers and allowing other users
to
integrate and cross link their content. Parallel
r to the static websites of commercial
providers, p users are generating their own
Internet
of highly cross linked self presenta-
tion
pages and diaries (weblogs, short blogs,
blogosphere), b
discussion and swap forums
boards), (b media sharing portals (e.g. Google,
YouTube.com) Yo and encyclopedia (e.g. Wiki -
pedia). p Service providers supply the servers,
structures s and templates that support blogging,
g discussion, etc.
New: N
Web 2.0 has an additional often ignored
aspect: in the future the Internet should have
“barrier free” access. This request comes
from the handicapped community and the
wording parallels demands made in the non
virtual world. Regarding the Internet this means,
among other things, the acoustic reproduction
of content for the visually impaired.
Regrettably this remains the absolute exception
for online newspapers. This “newspaper
radio” feature uses a voice synthesizer that
reads articles of the e-paper edition. Many
newspapers, primarily English, are acoustically
available at the American internet service
PressDisplay.com, either on the computer
via Windows Media Player or on a smart
phone (mobile radio). More experimentally
than permanently, a handful of German publishers
are enabling their web pages with a
loudspeaker symbol for voice synthesizing.
Die Welt has chosen a different path offering
up to five recorded articles on its website in
addition to in-depth audio podcasts.
Evaluation of Web 2.0
Cross linking of like minded people is
highly developed in Web 2.0. Not only
content and joint interests are linked,
but also people via social networks – and this
at an enormous level. Recently Microsoft’s
minority share (1.6 %) of the social network
Facebook.com caused a furor. The portal, designed
for students to meet or reconnect with
each other and discuss various topics, has a
market value of $ 15 billion. This profitable
idea has been copied in German speaking
countries with studiVZ.net and MeinNachbar.
net.
More and more suppliers of Web 1.0 content
are trying to jump on the Web 2.0 bandwagon.
1/2008 N&M NEWSPAPER&MAGAZINES 31