DENVER — MediaNews Group is basing its next generation of targeted publications on the concept of “individuated” newspapers, fueled by the evolution of high-speed digital presses.

“I’ve followed digital presses long enough,” said Peter Vandevanter, MNG’s vice president of targeted products. “I knew it was going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.”

Drupa in June provided the backdrop for a number of digital press providers to show that their machines may finally be equipped to deliver results to an industry that’s been ready for them for some time now (see Newspapers & Technology, July 2008).


Peter Vandevanter, vice president of targeted products for MediaNews Group,
with a sampling of 239 niche publications the publisher prints.
Photo: Mary L. Van Meter
 

“We know these presses drive down the cost of printing,” Vandevanter said.

MNG is no stranger to niche publishing. In addition to its stable of daily newspapers, it currently offers 239 separate publications that include free magazines, newspaper weeklies and TMCs, from which the publisher posts annual revenues in excess of $90 million.

Now, Vandevanter said MNG is ready to draw on its expertise to become the  “iPod of newspapers,” offering targeted daily products to readers with all of the content they want and nothing they don’t.