Google Ozine
Making use of online services
The fifth in a series of ten essays on ten things to try in the
vein of using crowdsourcing to get his PrintmakingWorld Ozine started in three
months based on an article by Rachel Bartlett describing how existing online
promotional services can be useful.
Preface
How do you start a printmaking magazine for online only? Most of the
histories given online are based on magazines that already exist as paper-based
businesses. They follow the traditional mode—get content, get money from
advertising and subscriptions, and go.
I want to start a new Zine-style online service and call it
PrintmakingWorld Ozine, and fill it with content that I used to offer at the
University of Washington. Printmaking is not only an art form, it is the
ancestor of all media arts and technologies. By this point in time, printmaking
should be offered both as a good old timey, hands on craft and art, and also as
the basis for all mechanical and digital communication.
That’s what I believe should be the core of a really useful online magazine—partly
about the art and craft, but also including the newest non-art processes of
printmaking, especially the relationship of printmaking to time and space.
But there is an obstacle: Before I can enlist people with the skills,
knowledge, interest and attitude to make this idea come to reality, it appears
that I need money for things like compensation, hardware, software and security—such
as legal help.
In fact, I am not certain—even though I have the idea clearly in my mind—of
all the things that should be put in place for a good foundation. In number 5
in her article, in which Rachel Bartlett gives ten ideas that involve
crowdsourcing, she has this 5th one to suggest [paraphrased]:
Make use of Google+ Hangouts/Skype to hold open meetings
“Publishers can often use video
conferencing platforms, such as Google+ Hangouts or Skype, to engage with their
communities. The functionality varies from carrying out interviews live 'On
Air', which anyone can watch, and selected individuals can partake in, to
editorial discussions ahead of publication with writers across the world.
“For example, Company ran a Google +
Hangout On Air as part of the production of its "social issue".
It invited readers who would like to have some input with the editorial team in
the meeting to register in advance.
" ‘We thought, why not get readers
involved and have people come in and almost suggest features to us – using a
Google Hangout – as to what should go into this special issue. The planning is
where readers can get involved. They can pre-register to be involved in the
hangout if they've got ideas they want to suggest and put forward.’”
“Femina also used Google + Hangouts to hold an editorial
meeting with half of the 60 contributors who ended up successfully submitting
content to be published in the magazine.”
Yesterday
Like a wake-up call, yesterday I got an invite to join the Google Circle of
Pat Austin, one of my former students from the 1970s. She is retired now, and
taking up writing, and we are in touch regarding her downsizing and selling one
of her Halfwood Presses. Google Hang Out is a way to hold a forum on the
subject of the selling of pre-owned presses, I think; as I am the co-founder of
the Halfwood Press venture, it would be natural to start with this instance and
share it.
Also yesterday
Another interesting thing about yesterday (Feb. 26, 204) was the sudden
appearance of two web pages having to do with popular printmaking (pop
printmaking?). One was from the Craft and Concept, which makes portable printing
presses and promotes printmaking experiences. The other was from a private
school in France, where a German-made miniature model of the company’s normal, “full-size”
presses was provided for the student who held a printmaking fair.
The two events suggested an interesting article to me but, with only two
paper-based magazines in the world to report it, I wonder if as many people
will get to learn about the experience, and grow it in such a way as its
educational value is known, as would learn about itin an online magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment