Thursday, December 07, 2006
Magazines and Web 2.0: Could Do Much Better!
Something tells me that Emap haven't quite got this Web2.0 thing yet - Country Walking is going to charge readers to upload mobile UGC to the magazine's site - 50p each way. The charge will be disguised in that it goes on the contributor's mobile bill, which is always a neat way to get round the problem, but I presume it will be made clear in a terms-and-conditions-apply way.
Of course, this could just be the first move in an industry-wide development. IPC's next big online initiative is also likely to involve UGC in some way and publishers have always been able to monetise a community's interests and loyalty (there would be no cover prices otherwise).
Call me an unrealistic sentimental old fool (I won't disgree, after all what IS so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?) but it does seem a shame that the bonanza potential of Web2.0 is being shifted from geeks in garages (or universities) suddenly being swamped with cash to the more mundane, quotidian business of cashflow, profit and loss.
Oh for the Good Old Days.
Of course, this could just be the first move in an industry-wide development. IPC's next big online initiative is also likely to involve UGC in some way and publishers have always been able to monetise a community's interests and loyalty (there would be no cover prices otherwise).
Call me an unrealistic sentimental old fool (I won't disgree, after all what IS so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?) but it does seem a shame that the bonanza potential of Web2.0 is being shifted from geeks in garages (or universities) suddenly being swamped with cash to the more mundane, quotidian business of cashflow, profit and loss.
Oh for the Good Old Days.
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