"Cross Media" still the words to start with

The Print Show is now the main event for the UK so a reasonable place to start when thinking about words and how changes matter. Previously when IPEX existed there was also a series of Cross Media events at the Business Design Centre in Islington. The idea was to show how new online media would fit with print and how print companies could provide a full service. It was assumed that a production emphasis could co-exist with IPEX as a print show at ExCEL but this did not work so well. The space was reduced from first impressions and was not well attended.

But later similar ideas have arrived with different words. Last year Gee Ranasinha suggested "omnichannel" and Adobe seems to use "multichannel" or "multimedia". The difference could be that the starting point is with online, a mix into which print fits. So it could be for detail or expense once an audience is identified.

The magazine Print Monthly still has a section on "Cross Media" so this could be a link. Writing this on holiday so only have one copy at the moment. Will ask for comment at the show.

Adobe has a MAX event coming up, possibly with some new words. They gave up on print a long time ago, as it appears.

The promotion aspect relates back to newspapers and books, as discussed by Pat McGrew and John Charnock at IPEX last year. News comes in a flow that may lead to a newspaper site or a decision to pay for access. Print subscription may follow. Content for local bundles such as in supermarkets comes from various sources and may be tested already somewhere else. Online courses such as MOOCs are now being repeated with fairly stable content and a long term subscription option. This moves away from the "open" idea but is more viable. It could replace a textbook or lead to more books being purchased. Series aimed at university libraries can work with digital printing for runs up to 500 or so ( not sure exactly, another question for next week). The content may be shared with a MOOC or be amended during feedback.

Later this month there is a Like Minds event in Exeter, where I live. Mostly about social media but with a large interest in print.  Last year Jason A Miller from LinkedIn explained how they took the best marketing articles from LinkedIn into a print magazine. It just seemed to have more authority.

More later.