Welcome to the Guidomedia research project page

The current project is an inquiry into the communication models used by specialist print publishers in an internet environment.

Title: An investigation of the internet publishing models employed by specialist magazines

This project asks what publishing models have been used by specialist print magazines and how they have transformed in their migration to internet publishing.
Specialist magazines have traditionally failed to gain the recognition enjoyed by broad-interest mass media, however in an environment where commentators believe audiences are fracturing, titles of this nature have become increasingly influential.
Specialist publishers were among the early adopters of the internet, seeing it as an opportunity to reach audiences which may have otherwise been difficult to assemble through other means of transmission. In addition, established print titles have found --  often to their surprise --  that internet has assisted in growing rather than cannibalising their market.
The project examines the theoretical models which talk to this environment, the current refereed literature and open market commentary. In addition, publishers and staff of specialist titles have been interviewed. This exercise has also involved the development and publishing of number of specialist titles, which has provided valuable insights.

If you have an interest in the subject, your feedback and input is very welcome via this link

An earlier project was for a masters at RMIT University (completed 2000) and was an investigation of producing an email newspaper for a specialist audience, which was then supported by a web presence. It was an exercise that grew a life of its own and developed (after the project write-up) a steady internet audience in excess of 60,000 unique users per month, while the email product reached about 10,100 people per week.

You can review the early results by downloading the Masters project (MS Word) by using the link below.

PC - place your cursor over the download link, click the right mouse button and use "save target as" (Explorer) or "save link as" (Netscape);

Mac - click and hold, scroll to "download link to disk" and release.

Here's the link - click here. (750k)

Upcoming journal articles

1. Title: Internet reader as reporter
Subtitle: How the technology of the internet has changed the dynamic between publisher and audience
Summary: Professionals in the publishing industry report that the relationship between audience and publisher has been changed significantly by the widespread adoption of internet and email as a means of communication.
This article concentrates on the relationships that exist in traditional print and newer online industries, however many of the comments are valid for other 'traditional' media forms (television, radio).
There is substantial evidence that the immediacy and breadth of communication afforded by internet and email (that last is a crucial element) has significantly changed the audience's involvement in media from spectator, to involved and informed critic, and reporter. There is also evidence that media outlets have seen the growing opportunity for using an audience as a (for example) news resource.
In turn this raises the ongoing question over whether media professionals are increasingly being painted into a virtual corner where they become little more than information gatekeepers.

2. Title: Publisher and librarian
Subtitle: The limitations and the advantages of internet publication make it more critical than ever that publishers understand how to become good librarians
Summary: Internet publishers (which includes anyone who publishes on the internet - and not just those from the media industry) have a growing responsibility, and opportunity, to establish clear indexing structures within their sites as part of their overall communication strategy.
Some people within the internet industry argue that this has at times crystallised as a fundamental battle between what shouldn't be, but often are, opposing approaches to the same problem. Which are: Should this design be driven by the technology, or by the communication outcome?
This article examines and discusses those approaches, using examples currently on the web, and analyses the outcomes.