Johnnie RobertsSenior WriterNewsweek
Introductory Remarks for Video Panel“Magazines 24/7” Digital ConferenceFebruary 27, 2007New York, NY
Good afternoon, and welcome to our panel—“Video: What’s Connecting with Consumers?”
I had prepared remarks, but I’ll have to ad lib as I mistakenly picked up my resume (which I’ll hand out after this session).
As moderator, of course, I have to introduce panelists. Believe me, it’s an unenviable task. I’m flumoxed. “Distinguished” is as much as I can say about each of them.
Beyond that, as best I can tell is that they are some kind of mutants from the evolving world of content. Each is a mover and shaker at print magazine or magazines. Yet arguably one of their most important jobs has nothing to do with pictures and print, but video. So what do I call them: They’re evolving from merely being that familiar life form—wretched ink-stained editor. What should we call ourselves is a question worth pondering for all of us now that our industry, as a result of the internet and digital technology, undergoes a great metamorphorsis in the nature of what we do—produce and distribute content.
The velocity of this metamorphorsis is mind numbing, particularly as it relates to the shift to video from a heritage of print. Indeed, the trade magazine, publishing executive has dubbed 2007: the online video era:
The headlines in February alone confirm this potentially seminal moment: “Google in content deal with media companies.” It’s a story about how such print titans as Conde Nast and Dow Jones are partnering with Google to syndicate their video content to other websites.
Another headline: “Magazines start studios to join online video craze.” It’s a story about how Time Inc. announced the launch of an in house studio to help its 130 magazines develop web video. It could end up syndicating some of that video to other sites.
TV Guide broadband, the online programming arm, struck a deal with Brightcove to syndicate video to news and entertainment sites and blogs.
Us Weekly created celebrity channel with the online tech company Veoh Networks.
What I want to know is, do I get paid a residual for each on-demand stream of video featuring my work.
Here to help enlighten us on the subject are three superstars of the world of mutating media: Todd unger, Senior Vice President of Time4 Digital; Seventeen’s Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket; and Forbes.com Editor Paul Maidment.
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