GREEN RE-THINKING
Green re-thinking is moving through the business world rapidly, refreshingly... sometimes cynically, sometimes naively, nevertheless hopefully. And it leaves me wondering: how soon til we start talking about banning the daily newsprint scattershot broadcast? How soon til society demands that daily papers must apply Negroponte's narrowcasting to its presses, where readers would customise what parts of the paper they get? In a world of increasingly-sophisticated digital presses, is that so unlikely? It's happened on the Web, but, digital ink dreams aside, our love affair with the newsprint form factor will continue: and it should be an advertiser's dream to be able to send me only the advertising I'm
likely to care about, and in an environment with a far better signal-to-noise ratio. I think it's a smart discussion worth having: perhaps right here... since its unlikely to be the topic on next Saturday's thinly-sliced op-ed page.
David Berman is Icograda's Treasurer and leading a significant policy initiative for the 2007-2009 term on Icograda's environmental footprint.
For additional information, see this week's Feature and our links to Sustainability Resources for initiatives by Icograda Members and affiliates.
Comments:
That's a great point, David. I am an art director at an interactive agency where we basically handle the online versions of the newspaper inserts. Our work is so much more targeted and efficient than our print counterparts. I guess the issue comes down to the kid slinging the papers. One-size-fits-all is a much easier task.
6:38 AM | February 08, 2008 PST (GMT - 8)
David, In an effort to reduce my carbon footprint as well as cut costs out here in Thailand, I've stopped receiving Western design mags as well. All those ads. Being shipped all those miles. Eventually add up. ps: congrats on the new Icograda blog.
4:31 AM | February 18, 2008 PST (GMT - 8)
one of my session with my students was talking about where the paper comes from, a giant forest will be varnished when don't care about how modern life could affect the nature. now i welcome the students with used paper when we discuss about their design project and push them to think twice and more when they planned to produce their design in large size.
11:12 PM | April 03, 2008 PST (GMT - 8)
Given the poor financial position of local newspapers in North America, I worry who will cover the news? Without a mass readership, there is not enough income for professional journalists -- do bloggers have to make up the difference as volunteers? Finally, my understanding of the economics is that online delivery (free, with advertising) is not paying the bills of publishers compared to print copies. Trees are relatively renewable, we haven't yet solved the problem of the computer lifecycle waste stream.
2:49 PM | May 22, 2008 PST (GMT - 8)
