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diff --git a/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/Monkey_Bites/2007/03.12.07/Mon/mag.txt b/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/Monkey_Bites/2007/03.12.07/Mon/mag.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d39fdb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/Monkey_Bites/2007/03.12.07/Mon/mag.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +The Future of the Online Magazine panel proved to be by far the most entertaining session I've attended here at SXSW. Sean Mills from [The Onion][2] joined Ricky Van Veen of [College Humor][1], Laurel Touby of [Media Bistro][3], and Joan Walsh, Editor in Chief at [Salon][4]. Van Veen and Mills quickly descended into a friendly and totally hilarious sparring match of wits about their competing sites. + +But amid the ribbing and jokes, serious issues were broached as well. The general consensus among the panelists seemed to be that online magazines will replace printed content at some point, though Mills pointed out the the print version of the Onion belies that somewhat and has continued to expand into new markets. + +Salon of course defended the paid premium content model with Walsh claiming that nearly 25 percent of Salon's revenue comes from membership purchases. Most of the others seemed to think that freeing up the content and generating revenue via ads is the way of the future -- so very web 2.0 of them. + +Unsurprisingly everyone agreed that Flash-based "magazines" which try to imitate the reading experience of a magazine are a very bad idea. The magazine as website is obviously a more user-friendly model and the general consensus was that audience participation and blogs were the burgeoning areas of growth on magazine sites. + +None of the panelists seemed particularly keen on a Digg-like approach to audience participation and no one seemed to think that was what their readers wanted. After all if you're seeking unedited writings there's always blogs. What distinguishes most magazine sites from a run of the mill blog is precisely that editorial oversight that readers have come to value. + +At one point the panel took a highly surreal turn when an audience member (who was I believe part of the collegehumor staff) stepped up to the mic and launched into a very Andy Kaufmanesque question/tirade. Definitely the liveliest panel I've sat through. + + +[1]: http://collegehumor.com/ "College Humor" +[2]: http://www.theonion.com/content/ "The Onion" +[3]: http://www.mediabistro.com/ "Media Bistro" +[4]: http://www.salon.com/ "Salon"
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