R.R. Donnelley Online Services Introduces ePublish Service

Posted on December 6, 1999

R.R. Donnelley Online Services has announced it will offer magazine publishers ePublish. ePublish will design, build and run websites for magazine companies, incorporating tools and technologies that are centered on content management, community building and commerce.

"Developing and managing a good web site requires a significant investment of dollars and personnel, yet many magazines simply don't have the internal resources dedicated to developing and supporting an Internet strategy," said Kimberly Williams, vice president of R.R. Donnelley Online Services. "ePublish offers these publishers an opportunity to have a smart, highly functional web site at a manageable cost, while allowing them to focus on their core business. And because R.R. Donnelley has been working with magazine publishers for more than 100 years, we understand their unique issues and challenges and therefore can integrate into their business more effectively."

R.R. Donnelley Online Services has formed strategic alliances with web development companies to provide web solutions. These alliances currently include: Vignette's StoryServer, eShare's Expressions, Message Media, R.R. Donnelley's E-Commerce solutions, DoubleClick/NetGravity, B2BWorks and net.Genesis' net.Analysis. Additional features and functionality will be incorporated into the ePublish platform on an ongoing basis.

ePublish is premiering with two pilot partners, Lifestyle Ventures and Clapper Communications. Both companies will use ePublish to enhance existing websites. Lifestyle Ventures is the publisher of American Cheerleader, Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher and Stage Directions; Clapper Communications is the publisher of Crafts 'n Things, Painting, Pack-o-Fun, The Cross Stitcher, Baby Craft and Angel Crafts.

"We are delighted that R.R. Donnelley has selected Lifestyle Ventures as the first to be developed on this new platform," said Michael Weiskopf, CEO of Lifestyle Ventures. "ePublish will allow us to offer a full range of highly sought-after capabilities, and we are very excited about the ways in which we can become involved with our readers and serve our growing community."