PR: Star Tribune Online electronic newspaper announced
Steve Yelvington
STAR TRIBUNE TO JOIN WITH ZIFF-DAVIS
TO LAUNCH ONLINE NEWS SERVICE
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN--June 20, 1994--The Star Tribune
announced today that it will launch an interactive electronic
news and information service, Star Tribune Online, that will be
available to users via personal computers and modems.
According to Tim McGuire, Star Tribune senior vice president and
editor, and general manager of the Reader Customer Unit (RCU),
Star Tribune Online will join with The Interchange (tm) Network
Company to create the service. The Interchange Network Company
is a division of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, the nation's
largest publisher of information about computers and computing.
The Star Tribune has signed a letter of intent to use new
technology developed by The Interchange Network Company to create
the newspaper's electronic service. The Star Tribune service is
scheduled to be launched this winter.
"Online services create an enormous opportunity for us to provide
exciting new kinds of information with a depth that we simply
can't approach with newsprint," said McGuire. "We've chosen
Ziff-Davis as our partner because its Interchange technology
represents a major leap forward in online services. Online
customers will find Interchange's search capabilities and
responsiveness vastly superior to other services."
Joel Kramer, president and publisher of the Star Tribune, said,
"This online service will be one of a number of exciting examples
of the Star Tribune using new technologies to give readers and
advertisers better, faster and deeper services."
McGuire also announced today that Robert Schafer will be
publisher of Star Tribune Online. Schafer has been with the Star
Tribune for 18 years in a variety of newsroom positions,
including assistant managing editor. Most recently, Schafer was
the new products leader for the RCU.
Schafer said that the collaboration with Ziff-Davis will allow
Star Tribune Online to incorporate information and services from
the Interchange Online Network, Ziff-Davis' new online
information service. Features of the Interchange Online Network
include stock quotes and personal financial information, sports,
TV program information, and nationwide bulletin boards. Schafer
added, "Ziff-Davis' technology has the capability of
automatically searching each day for local and national news
specifically tailored to the individual subscriber's interest,
and then assembling that information for easy retrieval by the
subscriber. It makes it easy for the individual subscriber to
find the news and information that's most useful to that
subscriber."
Star Tribune Online also will provide news, photos and
information beyond the material that is printed in the daily
newspaper. Specialized local information will include such
features as an informational guide about the Twin Cities,
entertainment listings, event calendars, and the ability to
search Star Tribune newspaper classified advertising. Subscribers
also will have early access to news stories that will appear in
the newspaper the next morning.
"Star Tribune Online's local bulletin boards will give
subscribers the opportunity to communicate among themselves on
topics which they are interested. With the online service we
have the capability of building multi-way communications allowing
people to reach out to one another in new ways," Schafer said.
"We are delighted that the Star Tribune has chosen Interchange as
the platform for its new online service," said Michael Kolowich,
president of The Interchange Network Company. "Interchange will
give Star Tribune Online members the most engaging, informative
online experience possible, as well as give them access to an
active community of online users who share their interests."
Steve Yelvington, recently announced Star Tribune Online
editor/manager, said of the alliance with Ziff-Davis, "they've
created an online environment in which we can build a
great-looking electronic newspaper that allows us to maintain the
look and feel of the printed newspaper, including Star Tribune
logos, headlines and graphics. Star Tribune Online will be easy
to use, easy to search and easy to love."
Pricing for Star Tribune Online has not yet been determined, but
is expected to be under $15 per month. For an additional fee,
users of Star Tribune Online can have access to other
special-interest services on the Interchange Online Network.
Interchange Computing, for example, will include libraries of
downloadable software and a wealth of information for computer
professionals. Interchange members will also have e-mail access
to the Internet, the worldwide network of computer networks. The
system initially will be available for people with IBM PC or
compatible computers, models 386 and above, that run Windows 3.1
software and have a 9600- baud modem. A version for Macintosh
computers will be available later in 1995.
The Interchange Network Company is a division of Ziff-Davis
Publishing, publisher of the leading magazines about computing,
including PC Magazine, PC/Computing, PC Week, Computer Shopper,
MacUser, MacWEEK, Windows Sources, Computing Game World, the
recently announced Computer Life, and the joint-venture with
Disney, Family PC, as well as seven publications in Europe.
Headquartered in New York City, Ziff-Davis Publishing is the
leading information provider for computer buyers, users and
marketers.
The Star Tribune company is the largest operating unit of the
Cowles Media Company--a newspaper, magazine and information
services company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cowles
Media Company's other operating units include Cowles Magazines,
Inc., publishers of special interest consumer magazines and
related books and products, and Cowles Business Media, Inc.,
publishers of specialized business magazines and information
services. The Star Tribune is the 15th largest daily metropolitan
newspaper in the nation with a circulation of 412,483. The Sunday
Star Tribune is the 13th largest metropolitan newspaper in the
country with a circulation of 696,084 [Source: Audit Bureau of
Circulation (ABC) for the six-month period ending March, 1994].
E-mail address for Robert
Schafer: rob...@startribune.com
E-mail address for Steve
Yelvington: ste...@startribune.com
Eric B. Richardson
>It finaly sounds like there will be a service that is worth the $15/month
>to subscribe! I'm excited!
Not me. We won't be able to get the coupons for groceries anymore 8-(
later