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E-mail StoryCalifornian wins $837,000 grant for 'printcasting'
| Wednesday, May 14 2008 5:16 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, May 15 2008 7:48 AM
The Californian has won a grant that will help it develop a system allowing groups and individuals to create niche publications supported by local advertisers.
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Dubbed “printcasting,” the software-based system would assist people in creating customized newspapers and magazines made up of information gathered from local sources such as blogs, newsletters and news organizations. The publications could be e-mailed or printed at home and then distributed.
To help make these newspapers financially viable, the system would make it easy for businesses to design their own ads to appear as part of the product. Advertising revenues would be shared by the publisher and the various contributors.
A representative of The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which announced the $837,000 award Wednesday, said the newspaper’s idea won based on its forward-thinking approach as well as The Californian’s reputation for innovation.
“This was not just hyperlocal information, but it was also hyperlocal ads, and it was combining those two,” said Gary Kebbel, the foundation’s journalism program director.
The foundation said it selected 16 ideas from among 3,000 grant applications. It awarded a total of $5.5 million to individuals and groups worldwide. One example of a winning application would help fund a project to turn computers into digital radio transmitters in India.
The printcasting proposal was developed by Dan Pacheco and Justinian Hatfield of The Californian’s New Products Group. Pacheco has been instrumental in developing an automated, Internet-based platform that fosters social interaction.
Californian Publisher and Chairman of the Board Ginger Moorhouse said the organization was thrilled to be honored with the grant.
“There are terrific people working at The Bakersfield Californian who are excited about a new vision for our industry and have amazing enthusiasm and energy,” she said. “They are the ones who truly deserve this award. And they will make the best of it!”
Printcasting is a two-year project to be launched in Bakersfield in March 2009 before being expanded to other cities. It would be available worldwide at the end of two years.