How Will News Companies Get Paid for Journalism on the Web: The Info Valet

Join industry execs, technologists and strategists at Reynolds Journalism Institute summit: help define the business model that will sustain journalism.

www.rjionline.org - November 10, 2008

(PRNewsChannel) / Columbia, Mo./"Blueprinting the Informational Valet Economy: Building a collaborative, shared-user network," is the title of a three-day summit to take place Dec. 3-5 at the newly opened Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri.

"The U.S. news industry is struggling, and advertising's double-digit growth has evaporated," says Bill Densmore who is spearheading the event. "The industry needs to rethink and relaunch its relationship with 50 million customers - to become their 'Information Valet.'

"Consumers want a customized experience," he explains. "But they want control. They want to be compensated for use of demographic and usage profiles."

"What we need is a user-focused system for sharing identity and for exchanging and settling value (including payments) for digital information. A system that will allow multiple Information Valets to compete for and serve customers with an array of interests as well as various appetites for demographic sharing."

The Information Valet will allow the industry to make money whether users are buying services (including music and entertainment) or being paid for online contact with sponsored messages and advertising.
"If your business (or your passion) is
•  news
•  advertising
•  information commerce
•  technology
•  entertainment
•  health care
•  financial services
•  privacy
•  personalization
don't miss the chance to help shape the next Internet innovation," says Densmore. "The Information Valet Project could change your business in ways you haven't imagined. For once it's your chance to shape disruption to your advantage."

A member of the inaugural class of Donald W. Reynolds Fellows, Densmore is devoting the 2008-2009 academic year to defining, documenting and producing the Information Valet.
An expert on Internet information technologies and Internet-related business models, Densmore headed up The Media Giraffe Project at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and has been an editor/writer for the Associated Press, ComputerWorld Magazine, the Boston Globe and trade publications in business law.

"Come join us as we change the landscape for news and information providers, artists and publishers," he says. "The Internet needs to be a place where companies compete to provide personalized service to users, yet share those users. A place where they make money referring those users to content and advertising. The blueprint we will create will encompass law, governance, marketing, advertising, technology, user identity and transactions."

"If you are a senior executive in the news, telecommunications, wireless, technology, health care, financial services or entertainment businesses, we urge you to join us," says Densmore.

To learn more about what to expect, who's invited, how they'll participate and why "Blueprinting the Information Valet Economy" is happening now, visit http://www.ivpblueprint.org/.

About the Reynolds Journalism Institute: At the $31 million Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute professional journalists, scholars and industry leaders collaborate and connect with citizens. RJI celebrated its grand opening in Sept. 2008. It is housed in 50,000 square feet of new and remodeled space including a modern four-story glass-walled structure built inside a carefully preserved 1892 Victorian gothic building on the University of Missouri campus. RJI was funded with a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, a national philanthropic organization. 

Contact: 
Kelly Peery, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute
Email:
Phone: (573) 884-9121
Web site:  www.rjionline.org

Source Web Site: www.rjionline.org