Chicago Tribune Launch of Triblocal Using KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution Successful in Reaching Readers and Advertisers

Kodak solutions enable newspapers to extend role as critical communications tool

Chicago, IL.- Chicago Tribune Publishing Group President Scott Smith and Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Antonio M. Perez held a meeting in Chicago today to review an agreement which will strengthen and expand their strategic commitment to the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution. The meeting comes after the successful roll out of Triblocal in the Chicago area and during a time in which Kodak is bringing a variety of solutions to newspapers that increase their vitality for both readers and advertisers, while leveraging advanced technologies in new ways to reach wider audiences.

Since announcing in April that it would become the first newspaper in the country to use the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution to reach highly localized groups of readers and advertisers, Chicago Tribune has successfully launched a number of community web portals that allow local citizens to contribute and is now publishing two weekly community papers using the contributor’s content.

“We are extremely pleased with the functionality of the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution and how it allows us to create new print products that connect with readers and advertisers on a localized level,” said Smith. “The KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution provides a way for readers and advertisers to intuitively communicate with each other and with us. From a print publishing standpoint, the solution provides an efficient way to handle the content that is provided by and for the community.”

“The KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution significantly expands the opportunities for newspapers to serve both readers and advertisers. It creates growth opportunities for newspapers, enabling them to develop new products and revenue streams as they compete in a changing media environment,” said Perez. “We’re excited about our partnership with The Chicago Tribune and how they have embraced the Triblocal opportunity. Kodak is continuing to work on exciting products for newspaper printers that harness digital print capabilities and the Internet in ways that strengthen the ties between newspapers, advertisers and readers.”

According to Smith, Triblocal will expand to cover more communities by the end of the year. The two editions of Triblocal newspapers currently produced with the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution range from 16-32 pages each week. Advertisers have enthusiastically greeted the product, exceeding expectations for commitments to the weekly print editions during the rollout phase.

Chicago Tribune is the first newspaper in the country to use the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution and it is considering utilizing the technology at other Tribune Publishing properties. Kodak also has discussions underway with other newspaper publishers interested in the solution.

The KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution allows local citizens to submit stories, photographs and community event listings, advertisers to create and place ads, as well as manage and store the ads they create, and pay for the media space using ecommerce functionality, and newspaper publishers to aggregate content, edit copy, assemble pages, and publish output for print and online versions dynamically.

Microzone publishing is just one of the ways Kodak is using technology to help newspapers meet reader and advertiser needs, while increasing revenue opportunities in a Newspaper 2.0 environment. Last year, Kodak announced a digital printing solution composed of the KODAK VERSAMARK VX5000 Printing System with inline finishing from Hunkeler AG to better serve a mobile and geographically dispersed consumer market that has more options than ever for receiving information. Newspapers increasingly print short runs in local markets for timely distribution in remote locations. In response to the growing need for “day A” newspapers, a term that refers to a newspaper delivered on its publication date anywhere in the world, the VERSAMARK VX5000 Printing System is an integrated digital printing system capable of producing 100 percent variable data in black, spot color or CMYK process color, depending on the configuration. Built on a modular and flexible platform, the VERSAMARK VX5000 Printing System utilizes continuous inkjet printhead technology for print speeds of 500 fpm (150 mpm), yielding more than 2,000 pages per minute with a low operation cost per page.

“There is a synergy between the various technologies that we offer across our portfolio that can be deployed by newspapers to take advantage of the strength of digital printing in producing highly personalized and short print runs in an economical manner,” said H. Jack Knadjian, Vice President Publishing Market Segment, Kodak. “Kodak wants to help our newspaper customers to leverage digital technology with the ability of the Internet to both deliver information in a real time manner while also creating profit opportunities in everything from distribution to promotions. We have more innovations on the horizon to help accomplish this goal.”