It was introspection in 2012, implementation in 2013
TAKEAWAY: It was a year of self imposed analysis for many publishers worldwide in 2012, and now they and their editors are ready in 2013 for some practical implementation based on what they have learned from that exercise in introspection.
2012:The year that was
As far as years go, 2012 had as much spice for us at Garcia Media as a good Thai green curry chicken. Now that old man 2012, its long white beard staring at us, is quite ready for its swan song, I have spent part of the weekend taking a look back at some of the highlights. In many ways, our own work this past year reflects the many changes that the industry face.
During the course of the year that was I personally travelled close to one million miles globally (which makes Lufthansa quite happy, danke!), and a lot of my travel was devoted to speaking at conferences and to conducting seminal workshops at a variety of newsrooms in six continents. These are pure learning experiences for me as I observe what people are doing and discuss with them their concerns as well as their goals, and their achievements, of course.
It was also the year that I wrote and published my first digital book, iPad Design Lab: Storytelling in the Age of the Tablet, a fantastic and fun learning experience. I continue to share what I, as a traditional print author, discovered while writing that book, with my clients and seminar participants.
Themes that defined 2012’s newsrooms discussions
If my Moleskine diaries are an indication, these are some of the larger themes I have observed:
1.Newspapers specifically are now ready to make the big moves. Having come thru the lamenting period, editors and publishers are now dealing with the more practical, and positive, aspects of moving on, finding a niche for the printed product, and concentrating on brand extension and top class storytelling.
2.The media quartet is playing well at most newsrooms: mobile, online, print and tablet. This is not just a catch phrase, but a plan ready for implementation.
3.Tablet development is past the “e reader” stage and moving into solid discussions of how to take the content of a newspaper (or magazine) to the new platform, accommodating what the users want: updated news, pdf of printed pages and, very importantly, curated editions that take special content that adapts well to the tablet platform.
4.There is much discussion of the role of the printed newspaper and, particularly, frequency of publication: I believe that in 2013 several newspaper titles will consider publishing less than daily, and some will beef up their weekend editions. This may happen sooner in the US and western Europe.
5.The printed newspaper as we knew it continues to thrive in areas of the world as the Middle East, eastern Europe, many parts of Asia, including India and China, and, to some degree, in Latin America. We will be involved in the creation and development of new printed newspapers that will be born in 2013.
6.More newspapers consider making a move to smaller formats. Compact is the way to go, and an A4 format is, in my view, an option for the printed newspaper of the future.
7.Responsive design, the one look that adapts easily to all the platforms, is a hot topic of discussion. We think that it will be a sure topic for implementation in 2013.
8.Mobile platforms are gaining popularity, as more publishers think beyond just providing “news updates” in those platforms and aim for content that offers service—-and which attracts advertisers.
9.Paywalls seem to have the sound of Christmas bells as more publishers consider them as the way to go. For publishers, 2013 will be the year that the word FREE begins to disappear from their daily discussions.
10.Online editions are getting a lot of attention as they sit in the midst of the media quartet: in terms of content, more frequently updated cycles; as for design, not just responsive, but also cleaner, leaner, less cluttered. We should see some dry vibrant and aesthetically pleasing models in 2013.
Coming in TheMarioBlog: looking back at our 2012 projects
In TheMarioBlog Tuesday, taking a look at projects we launched in 2012.
Pages we like
Bild of Germany devoted a double page in its Bild am Sonntag edition to that football (soccer) great, Lionel Messi. Informatie, appealing and full of details about the Argentinean mega star. Thanks to Frank Deville, our European blog correspondent, for sending us the image.
Here is the Boston Globe’s responsive design story
Ever since it launched, the Boston Globe’s approach to designing a common look for all of its platforms took off like a rocket, becoming extremely popular with editors and designers, as well as a subject of discussion in media seminars and conferences globally.
In this video you get to hear, first hand, how the Globe launched its responsive design and development. This video is worth your time.
Go here to see the video:
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/create-now/the-boston-globe-filament-group-inc-and-upstatement-and-rwd/
Of special interest:
Study says half of media buyers will try native advertising in 2013
http://paidcontent.org/2012/12/12/study-says-half-of-media-buyers-will-try-native-advertising-in-2013/
It’s not Twitter: this is just the way the news works now
http://gigaom.com/2012/12/15/its-not-twitter-this-is-just-the-way-the-news-works-now/
Take advantage of our iPad Design/Ad Lab workshops
Do you want to take your brand to the next level by creating a tablet edition? Garcia Media can help. We now offer one- to two-day iPad Design Lab workshops on demand to jumpstart your presence on this exciting new platform. We also offer iPad Ad Lab workshops to develop engaging advertising models for your app. Contact us for more information.
Purchase the book on the iBookstore
The EPUB version of book is HERE:
Now available: The EPUB version of iPad Design Lab: Storytelling in the Age of the Tablet, ready for download via Amazon.com for Kindle:
http://tinyurl.com/8u99txw.
Take a video tour of iPad Design Lab
“iPad Design Lab” trailer on Vimeo.
Read the Society of Publication Designers’ review of The iPad Design Lab here:
http://www.spd.org/2012/10/must-read-ipad-design-lab.php
Keep up with Mario Garcia Jr.. via Garcia Interactive: helping transform online news since 1995.
www.garciainteractive.com
Here’s a gift you don’t have to wrap!
It’s official. The Christmas/holiday shopping season is here.
Here is a suggestion for someone on your list: my digital book iPad Design Lab: Storytelling in the Age of the Tablet. No need to stand in line nor buy wrapping paper. Just send it to someone you think might enjoy a book about this magnificent new platform we call the tablet and how to maximize its potential for storytelling.
Here is how you can get the book:
The original version of the book is the multitouch textbook version available on the iBookstore for iPad (iOS 5.0 and up): https://itunes.apple.com/book/ipad-design-lab/id565672822. This version includes video walkthroughs, audio introductions to each chapter, swipeable slideshows, a glossary and a sophisticated look and feel.
Apple only sells multitouch textbooks in certain countries at this time, unfortunately. Copies are available in at least the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and the United States.
For those in other countries and without an iPad, we have made the book available in a basic edition for other platforms. This basic edition includes the full text of the original, along with the images and captions, but lacks the other features such as audio and video. It is available on the following platforms in many countries:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/SlPzjZ
Google Books: http://bit.ly/TYKcew