Blogging Paper Failure

The Printed Blog, a series of printed newspapers compiled from handpicked blog content, has ceased publication, citing a lack of investment.

The firm describes itself as follows on its website:

“The Printed Blog is an independent media outlet that aggregates user-generated content from the Internet and publishes it twice daily via print. The result is a revolutionary newspaper that reads and functions like a web feed - yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience.

The selection of content in The Printed Blog is based solely on the votes of readers and their geographic location. In such a way, The Printed Blog revolts against the top-down, ‘one size fits all’ model of newsprint, as we know it. Instead of one paper serving hundreds of thousands of people, as is often the case, The Printed Blog publishes hundreds or even thousands of highly-localized editions based on what a community declares is important to them. The papers are distributed to neighborhood pickup points in A.M. and P.M. editions, and will incorporate rapid turnaround reader comments.

We at The Printed Blog believe that there will always be a readership for off-screen, printed media- but in order for that media to survive, it must leverage the best information technology has to offer. Through the integration of online social networks and web-based syndication technologies, The Printed Blog is tapping into the wellspring of brilliant bloggers that has revolutionized collective media. As our society moves towards individualized information, The Printed Blog has the courage to respect our readers. We recognize the value of what individuals have to say, we publish the information they create, and provide them with the information they demand.

Why rely on a handful of outmoded sources, when you know there is great content out there? We know you are writing, learning, DIGGing, and sharing - this isn’t about the newspaper, this is about you.”

Josh Karp explained that the main problem behind the lack of success of the business was that it tried to expand too quickly and would have been better served to focus on one area and not have spread itself so thin.

Why would anyone want a printed version of a blog or is it just me?

Read the article here