Rupert Murdoch’s iPad newspaper made headlines over the weekend after a Women’s Wear Daily report told readers not to be surprised if they saw Murdoch and Apple CEO Steve Jobs on stage together for the product’s eventual announcement later this year.
Aside from the link bait of that hypothetical pairing, the story did reveal some new details about the project. John Koblin reported the Daily will be iPad-only, with no significant Web presence, and is expected to cost 99 cents per week or $4.25 a month.
Scott Rosenberg followed up on Sunday, writing that the iPad newspaper will be “dead on arrival” due to this disconnect. He wonders how a publication without a website could survive:
In a Monday article in The New York Times, David Carr notes the same anti-Web philosophy, writing that this is entirely on purpose:
“If you want a good look at the past and future of the News Corporation, compare the Web site of The New York Post — surely one of the ugliest, least functional in the business — with its snappy new iPad app. It’s a charming product, one that well reflects and amplifies the spice and excesses of the mother brand.
“The night-and-day bifurcation is understandable given that Mr. Murdoch has never entirely trusted the Web, with its terrible advertising economics and brutal fight for revenue from consumers.”
Viewing this as an “anti-Web” strategy puts the Daily project in an interesting perspective. Aside from the digital nature of the presentation, does News Corp. view an “iPad newspaper” simply as a way to save the cost of printing presses and delivery trucks? Or, are the cost savings an added benefit that make the creation of an innovative digital and tablet-native news experience possible?
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