E-reading interest gathers momentum

Stig Nordqvist, the project leader for both initiatives, has experienced firsthand the demand for proaction among publishers: “There is a sense of urgency in the newspaper industry about keeping the initiative and grasping the opportunities that e-reading offers. The success of the eNews 2008 project has also contributed to the high level of interest that we see for eNews 2010. We have 10 signed-up members and several more about to sign.”

Publishers already signed up with eNews 2010 include Ringier (Switzerland), Nikkei (Japan), La Presse (Canada), Agora Group (Poland), Harstad Tidende Gruppen (Norway), Kauppalehti (Finland), Singapore Press Holdings (Singapore), Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation (Hong Kong), Allehanda Media (Sweden) and Ibercento Medios (Spain).

Part of future strategy

Robert Stalmach, director of content and mobile at Gazeta.pl, part of the Agora group, explains that their decision to join the eNews initiative is part of the strategy for the future: “Membership in the eNews project gives us a better position in the context of the upcoming technology change. As a large publisher in CEE (Central and Eastern Europe), we strive to be prepared for those changes and the project helps us gain profound insight into the directions of development of new media consumption needs.”

One of the aims of eNews 2010 is to provide a lobbying platform for publishers vis-à-vis other players in the mobile e-reading value chain. Explains Nordqvist, “As top level publishers sign up for eNews, they add force to the momentum of the initiative. We are seeking the innovative business leader – big and small.”

As with the original eNews 2008 project, the objective for eNews 2010 is to bring together leading publishers in order to address a number of issues. These include identifying new business models for increased revenues, identifying suitable investment strategies for e-reading, influencing the development of e-readers as well as making realistic assessments of the emerging technologies, and identifying ways to develop strong and profitable products in the area of mobile e-reading.

“eNews is the unique global group to belong to if you want to do business in the mobile e-reading world of today and the future,” concludes Nordqvist.

For more information, go to www.ifra.com/enews.