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Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Media Cynic | Forum | Advertising | Classifieds | Jobs Open eBook Authoring Group Completes Draft Recommendation for New Electronic Book Publication Standard In a step that will accelerate availability of electronic book content, the Open eBook Authoring Group yesterday announced the completion of a draft recommendation of the Open eBook 1.0 Specification, which defines the format that content takes when it is converted from print to electronic form. After seven months of work, the Open eBook Authoring Group, which consists of publishers, eBook pioneers and other software and hardware firms, completed work on the standard, basing it on the same HTML and XML specifications that define the World Wide Web. The Open eBook initiative was proposed in October 1998 by Microsoft Vice President Dick Brass during his keynote speech introducing the world's first electronic book conference. The conference, held in Gaithersburg, Md., was sponsored by the NIST. "The goal of the Open eBook standard has always been to ensure that there is a free flow of electronic books from a large number of publishers to millions of consumers," Brass said. "It was also designed to prevent a damaging standards war in which each device would be incompatible and publishers would produce few titles for each." "I'm delighted that the Open eBook Authoring Group has worked together to finalize the standard so quickly, and that firms like NuvoMedia and SoftBook Press have been willing to overcome competitive pressures and work together for the common good of the industry and of consumers," continued Brass, who is vice president for Emerging Technology at Microsoft. The Open eBook standard is designed to allow content providers -- publishers and authors of books, articles and Web pages -- to deliver their material in a single format. This format will then be accepted by all systems compliant with Open eBook. A title can be read on all machines adhering to the standard, and publishers will be able to reach a wide audience without separately reformatting their titles for each machine. The standard is also designed to allow existing eBook devices to quickly accommodate it. In addition to releasing the recommendation for a final specification, the Open eBook Authoring Group proposed a process for final approval of the standard: * Members of the larger Open eBook group will have several weeks to provide comments on the specification. * The Authoring Group will then accept or reject pertinent feedback while further refining the standard. * Finally, the Authoring Group will present the revised final draft for approval to the Open eBook members. A vote to approve the final standard is scheduled to take place by July 1999. Infostock.com Announces Investment Opinion Infostock.com, an informative online financial publication service, announced Tuesday that it is expanding its stock research content on the Web to provide more in-depth information to online investors. "With the markets selling off in the last few days, this is time for long-term investors to broaden their investment portfolios," says says Mahesh Sadarangani, President and C.E.O. of Infostock.com. CNN Takes Equity Stake in New IDG Online Company The CNN News Group and IDG have entered into a multi-tiered marketing and strategic alliance. The alliance includes a weekly technology television program featuring IDG-branded program segments, online content exchanges, advertising and co-branding. "We are pleased that the online commitment between CNN and IDG has successfully grown into this new broader alliance between our two organizations," said Tom Johnson, chairman, president and CEO, CNN News Group. "Developments in technology have an ever increasing impact on CNN's audience, and this relationship with IDG allows us to create the most compelling and meaningful technology news content. With CNN available to 800 million people in 212 countries around the world and with IDG publishing more than 500 media products in 75 countries, this is a partnership of two truly global companies. We look forward to expanding this relationship across multiple media and internationally." "As IDG looks to extend its reach to technology buyers via television and the Web, CNN is an ideal partner," said Kelly Conlin, president and CEO, IDG. "Our companies are uniquely well-matched in their global reach, commitment to editorial excellence, and high quality audiences." PRWeek Parent Company Purchases Asia's Leading Media Publications The Haymarket Group, which is also Britain's largest privately-owned magazine publishing company, has acquired a strategic equity stake in Media and Marketing Limited, the publisher of Media magazine, the number one advertising publication in Asia Pacific, and Asian PR News. Now in its 26th year, Media magazine is published every two weeks from Hong Kong for Asia's advertising, marketing and media community. "This is an exciting development for Haymarket," said chairman Michael Heseltine. "As the whole advertising and communications industry becomes more international, it is increasingly important for our magazines to reflect this. We have been watching the growing success of Media magazine for some time, and we look forward to working alongside our new partners to give existing and new readers more international coverage in our magazines." theglobe.com Network Launches New Games Theme theglobe.com, an online community, has launched a new Games theme geared towards mainstream game fans around the world. The theme is powered by theglobe.com's newly acquired leading web sites for game enthusiasts, U.S. based Happy Puppy and U.K. based Games Domain. "Our mission is to make theglobe the premier site on the Web for interactive entertainment which is the fastest growing sector of the entertainment industry," said Dean Daniels, Chief Operating Officer, theglobe.com. Cygnus Publishing Acquires Solid Surface Magazine Cygnus Publishing has announced it has acquired Nevada-based Solid Surface Magazine. It will become part of the company's Shelter & Interiors Group and be overseen by Group Publisher Eliot Sefrin. "Solid Surface will assimilate well into our current infrastructure," says Sefrin, who is also the publisher of Kitchen & Bath Design News, a publication that in addition to its print property hosts a successful exposition annually. "Our Shelter & Interiors Group will be able to offer resources and added benefits that will help to grow the magazine." DuPont created the solid surface category with the invention of Corian in the late 1960s. Currently, the industry is the fastest growing segment of the $30-billion surfacing market, with annual growth of more than 20% per year. Solid surface is the generic term for acrylic or polyester products used for countertops, tub and shower surrounds, and other residential and commercial applications. Other solid surface manufacturers include Avonite Corp., Formica Corp., and Wilsonart International. "Cygnus Publishing can offer more depth and range to the magazine and the solid surface market," says Joanna Duggan, who will stay on as publisher. "The company already has significant relationships in place with many of our subscribers' customers." The magazine is distributed to 4,500 members of the solid surface industry in 50 states and 40 foreign countries including fabricators, manufacturers, distributors, product representatives, tool & equipment suppliers and training facilities. Solid Surface was launched by Michael Duggan in August 1995 and publishes six times a year. Five Star Publications Announces Contest for Romantic Love Letters Five Star Publications, Inc. has announced its contest in search of the most romantic love letters. The winning entry will be published in the book tentatively titled, Letters of Love: Stories from the Heart, scheduled to be released Valentine's Day 2000. "We believe old-fashioned romance is still alive and well in this day and age. Everyone loves a romantic love story -- whether it's one of triumph or sorrow. That's why we plan to compile a book of the best love stories to share with readers," said Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications. Selected winners will receive a copy of the book and other great prizes including a romantic getaway. Southwest Airlines has graciously donated two roundtrip airline tickets anywhere Southwest flies as the grand prize. "We plan to reward the most heart-warming love stories with lots of romantic prizes," said Radke. Those interested in submitting a romantic letter, story, or photograph can get more information and complete contest rules and guidelines by visiting Five Star Publications on the Internet at http://www.fivestarsupport.com. Blue Skies for "Fly Girls" on The American Experience Online In the midst of World War II, the call went out: women with flight experience were needed to fly for the military as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). All over the country, young women postponed their weddings, put their educations on hold, and quit their jobs to respond. From 1942 to 1944, more than a thousand women were trained to ferry aircraft, test-pilot planes, instruct male pilots, even tow targets for anti-aircraft artillery practice. They logged sixty million miles in the air, and thirty-eight died in service. The "Fly Girls" website on The American Experience Online allows visitors to learn more about the courageous women who took to the skies, explore the planes they flew, and track the changing role of women in the US military. The "Fly Girls" site accompanies the one-hour documentary of the same name airing on The American Experience Monday, May 24 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings). The American Experience Online appears on PBS Online. The site also contains an enhanced program transcript, extended transcripts of interviews used in the program, a teacher's guide, primary source documents, and a bibliography. The American Experience Online produces a companion website for every new television broadcast of The American Experience, with information beyond the broadcast including program schedules, teachers' guides, audience feedback and links to related sites. IDG Books and Berlitz to Launch Language Series IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., publisher of the best-selling ...For Dummies(R) series, have announced a new line of language titles produced in partnership with Berlitz Publishing Company, Inc. The first books in the series, French For Dummies and Spanish For Dummies, will be available this winter. "We look forward to introducing Berlitz to the ...For Dummies audience," said Ellen Adler, Vice President of Berlitz Publishing, Inc. "...For Dummies titles do a wonderful job of demystifying complicated subjects. Since adults are often intimidated by learning a foreign language, we think the ...For Dummies format will help overcome this barrier and introduce the joys of learning a foreign language to an enthusiastic and eager new audience." Around the Web B&N.com Debut, Up 38%, Called 'Weak' Media Central Canada, US Settle Magazine Dispute Media Central In Defense of Science Fiction Salon.com Former AOL Volunteers Seek Back Pay Nando Loeb Award Winners Announced Media Central Microsoft Aims to Become Jobs-listing Powerhouse Editor & Publisher The Music Industry Countdown Wired Will RealAudio kill the radio star? Salon.com Click here to return to the homepage of The Write NewsTM Click here to subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter.  www.writenews.com Copyright © 1997-2007 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
