In the design industry we regularly hear that print is a dying media. Bad news for a magazine publisher right? … Maybe not! ACP Magazines have embraced the digital age and expanded their online magazine store with the launch of a digital newsstand app for the iPad. This app allows you to browse their titles and download a digital range of 16 ACP mags to read on your iPad, including Good Food, Money, Wheels, Dolly, Cleo, Street Machine, Recipes +, and Rolling Stone.

The app is free, but obviously you have to pay for the digital versions of the magazines. Additionally, they’ve developed individual apps for four of the more popular magazines, which you can also purchase through the Magshop app. These apps include extras that you won’t get in the print editions, for example the Women’s Weekly app includes a behind-the-scene videos from the magazine’s celebrity shoots, cooking demonstrations, etc.

“Audiences should be able to access our great mastheads anywhere, and at any time, and the release of this application is the next step in our broader digital distribution strategy,” said ACP Magazines managing director, Phil Scott.

“Magazines have always been a highly engaging medium and tablet devices provide us exciting opportunities to connect with our readers on this platform.”

(Quotes sourced from: www.adnews.com.au)

But if you prefer a hard copy, you can also order or renew your print subscription using the Magshop app.

Yours in app-love,

Anya

When Facebook becomes a book from Siavosh Zabeti on Vimeo.

I think I’ve become a little obsessed with the digital word lately. I’ve pretty much stopped buying newspapers and magazines and get my fill online. I use my iPhone for my shopping lists and to jot down the epiphanies that come to me in the night. I’d rather put all my photos on Facebook than have them printed at a photo lab.

But this campaign for Bouygues Telecom’s Facebook Platform by Perfect Fools & DDB Paris really struck a chord with me. They looked at the way we use Facebook and found that even though we use the social networking site everyday, we forget our favorite moments we share online. It seems that by capturing all of your Facebook status updates, photos and activity in a book, you somehow make it more ‘real’ and ‘permanent’. I’m not sure if the printed Facebook actually exists or of you receive on when you sign up with Bouygues Telecom (would be awesome if you did) but the idea and filming is nice enough.

Maybe it’s time I brought back some ‘real’ and ‘permanent’ things in my life? How about you?

Yours in digital life,
Janet

1. Write like a Journalist
Your lead sentence should aim to get across your story angle, start answering the “who, what, when, why and how” and be squeezed into one sentence of about 28 words. If your press release is written in a style and language that’s natural to a journalist, you’ll have better chance of your content getting reproduced (sometimes verbatim!).

2. Develop a Newsworthy Angle
Sometimes businesses think their press release is newsworthy; but in fact, depending on which media you’re targeting, it may not be newsworthy at all. A health-related story will have better chance of getting a run in a health industry title, than say a local paper. But, tailor your press release with a localised angle and you’ll have a better shot at grabbing the attention of the local news journalist. Refer to some news angle basics: timeliness, proximity, and human interest.

3. Craft each Release per Media Outlet or Journalist
Research the specific journalist who covers the round your news item best fits, i.e. community news, health and beauty, business or entertainment. This information is often found in the credit box of the title, or located on the media outlet’s website – alternatively, just make a quick phone call. This is important to ensure your press release gets under the news-hungry nose of the right journalist.

4. Format the Press Release Professionally
Content wise, remember to keep your press release simple and newsworthy. Include a striking headline, a dateline, and contact details. Should your topic require additional background information, facts, statistics or a biography, include this in a paragraph labelled “Background Information” at the end of the press release. Stylistically, keep the press release between one to two pages. Include “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” at the top left hand corner. And finally, a press release that contains images (emailed or provided on disc) is advantageous.

5. Elect a Media Liaison Contact
If you’re looking after your own business’s PR, and do not have a professional PR Practitioner, you’ll need to elect a contact person who is skilled at answering media requests. These requests may be anything from lining up an interview, issuing photographs, to providing additional information. Ensure your elected contact is briefed on the basics of what is public and non-public company knowledge.

If you found these tips helpful, and would like to uncover ways to generate brand awareness through PR or marketing activities, Brio Group can help.

Yours in PR,
Julia

The new issue of Blanket magazine has just been posted. Click here to visit the site and download the magazine.

Yours in design, Janet-eratops