The University of Missouri’s Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, which pioneered the Emprint electronic format for newspapers, formed an alliance with about 20 newspaper publishers to research and pursue new digital strategies.

“We now have 20 members that include the Los Angeles Times, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., and Stars & Stripes,” said Roger Fidler, director of technology initiatives at the Institute.

The Institute in 2005 tested Emprint at the Columbia Missourian, posting a weekly Sunday edition of the paper (see Newspapers & Technology, May 2005.).

Emprint repackages a publication’s content in magazine-size forms that open in full-screen when viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 

Although digital newspapers are becoming more popular, Fidler said the technology remains at a very early stage.

“I believe widespread adoption will depend on the emergence of low-cost, lightweight, easy-to-use and mobile reading devices,” he said.

“I predicted that mobile reading devices and digital newspaper editions would become commercially competitive with paper and printed editions around 2010 and I still believe that’s possible.”

The alliance’s members are evaluating Emprint, which Fidler touts as being easier to use because of its navigational capabilities and easy-to-read format.

“Our focus is on digital information products that can be read on mobile reading devices, such as e-Readers, tablet PCs and handheld communicators,” he said.

Fidler said that business publisher The Deal, a founding member of the alliance, plans to launch an Emprint version of its content early this year.