Connection: USA tomorrow

Last week the announcement that USA Today will cut its staff and undergo radical restructuring may be a clear signal that technology has for ever changed the way news is delivered in America.

USA Today has pledged to focus less on its print format and more on the content that can be published across all media platforms, including online, mobile, and the iPad.

The trend for print newspapers to say they will now focus on new platforms is not new. But when America's second largest newspaper says it needs to make such a dramatic overhaul of its staff and structure, it indicates print can no longer claim its dominance in the media, and that now, content which can published across a variety of platforms, is more important than ever. USA Today — in the 1980s — was one of the first newspapers to indicate it understood the importance of appearance in the print media. It said television was print's main competitor.

As a result the newspaper began to use full-colour pages, less text, and colourful graphics to deliver the news — making the newspaper look a little more like television.

A host of other newspapers now follow that model, proving that USA Today was right.

Newspapers had to become a lot more conscious about their appearance, thanks to the influence of television.

USA Today said it hoped its new format would prepare it for the next 25 years. The new digital operation would emphasise breaking news on its website, by aiming to post full reports within minutes of an event.

The new project would also result in the creation of a stand-alone sports edition called USA Today Sports. The new format would also focus on making more content available in digital form, to win a larger slice of the consumer market which now reads its news on a mobile phone.

An executive editor for content would also be appointed, to liaise between the news and advertising departments.

In the Middle East market, restructuring a publishing house so it can better operate across a variety of platforms is nothing new.

Even though print is strong in the region, many companies have already expressed concern about the impact of new technology and said they are investing in other platforms to deliver the news.

But not everyone is following this trend. The fact that print is the driver in the local media could be very dangerous. The UAE is the most highly connected country in Middle East when it comes to the internet.

This is a very good reason for Middle East media to not neglect the online version of their publications.

Unfortunately, we can't predict the future, but it would be better to take action, rather than wait, like USA Today did, for a crisis to force change.

Only time will tell if USA Today has it right or not. We hope so.

MARVEL'S HISTORY IN INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC

Many superheroes who have appeared on the big screen in recent years — including Spider Man, Wolverine, Iron Man and the Hulk — are characters who came from Marvel Comics. Did you know, for example, that Marvel holds the rights for the word "Zombie", or that the first Hulk was grey and turned green because of printing errors? These and other curiosities are revealed in this infographic that tells the history of Marvel.

MEDIA GUIDE 2011

Media Guide is a reference book for all media workers in the Middle East. Over the years it has become a must-buy for all professionals in the Mena region. The next edition is being compiled and there is still time to have your company listed. It is edited by Ben Smalley. For more information contact:

editor@middleeastmediaguide.com

Source: Opera Gallery Tel : +971 43308262 , The Dubai Mall
 

PABLO PiCASSO

• Mousquetaire from 1967
• Indian ink on paper
• 63 x 47 cm
• Price is: 3,100,000 AED
• Where: Opera Gallery (The Dubai Mall)

The particularity of this artwork is that it was the first masterpiece ever exhibited in Oman and the first Picasso exhibited in Beirut for more than 35 years.

It comes from the famous series of Mousquetaire, by Picasso. He was 86 years old when he painted this portrait.