Ink Nineteen has carefully molded its web presence over the last year developing the look and feel of the site, as well as working out a system to convert new and old content for the Web. Publisher Ian Koss anticipates official launch of the site - which features a deep archive of back articles, new features, and an events calendar - this March. He hopes that it reaches an audience beyond Ink Nineteen's southeastern distribution, joking, "I think we're succeeding. We seem to be getting a lot of readers in Norway..." Beyond reaching new audiences, Koss also looks forward to some of the Web's publishing advantages. "For example, our February 1998 issue has a great review of "Titanic" which ...just couldn't fit in the print edition. So it's on the website. Ink is still searching to define its business model. In the meantime, they are enjoying the freedom and exploring the possibilities. Koss doesn't worry about loosing print readers for a few reasons: it's free, it's widely available, and print is still more friendly to the browsing reader process.

Orlando Weekly Publisher Alisa Cromer keeps the secrets of her soon-to-be-launched Website (coming in April) close to the vest: "I don't want to ruin the surprise when we launch, but the goal is to create a progressive site that competes with the mainstream sites. We may be the first to offer customized content, but Liz Langley will also be running polls like, 'What were baby Drew Garabo's first words?'" The Weekly aims to extend this content into Orlando's competitive online city-guide market and, according to Online Manager Jennifer Kijek, " to extend the reach of the Orlando Weekly brand outside of the Orlando market--folks who currently don't get the paper." For its business plan, the site will initially offer advertising through both the CPM model and sponsorships. With both media bringing in income, Cromer is unconcerned about print readers shifting online: "33% of our readers are using the Internet, or 60,000 people out of about 335,000 people online in Orlando. Plus tourists. Cannibalism is not our problem."

These next two Web joiners have done so with the help of Digital City Orlando's "Community Partners Program" , which, according to DCO Executive Producer Kenny Pate, is designed to bring DCO into closer connection with the community by adding content areas that target a broader range of interest groups: "Traditional media companies don't always do such a good job of keeping in touch with some segments of the community; hopefully these partnerships will let us avoid those kinds of problems." DCO also plans to benefit from the traffic these publications will draw.

The UCF Future (serving the University of Central Florida population) first went online in January of 98 as part of the Digital City "Community Partners" program. Initially, the site has a digital city address, but will switch to its own domain, www.ucffuture.com, shortly. In addition to publishing the paper's print content, says Managing Editor Ollivia Curnow, The Future will include several features intended to enhance the students' campus experience - information like late breaking news or election results, and features such as bulletin boards, maps, computer lab hours, self-help tips. Curnow also believes the paper will draw long-distance readers from the huge pool of UCF alumni, now spread across the country, who may want to follow happenings on their alma matter. She's not concerned about any loss of local print readers because of the convenience it offers on-campus, always within easy students' reach for time between classes etc.

A Florida music industry news and information source, Jam opened on the Web on January 30, 1998, as a component of Digital City's "Community Partners" program. Publisher George Biggers describes his web strategy: "The magazine's goal is to be the state's most comprehensive source of popular music news and advertising information. The website is an electronic extension of that mission and a natural extension of our print publication business." This means fresh news, more features, wider classified and advertiser reach, and a more complete, updated events calendar. Jam is still exploring alternative strategies in search of its business model. Initially, says Viggers, they plan to use online advertising space to add value to current regional and national sponsors. To ensure against loss of print readers to the website, he will use each product to promote rather than mirror the other. This strategy may even boost print circulation, he claims, as the Web draws in new readers.

Dan Leeds I may have broken the dreaded 30 threshold, but internally I still feel like I stopped getting older some time around 25 or so. Yea, I've become more responsible and maybe even a little more ambitious, but not so much that I've lost track of my guiding ideals or my ability to play. While getting older may be inevitable, aging is much more relative. What else is there? :) Other Articles I've Written