Urban Epic: An Experiment in Social Publishing

"I really feel that giving the Users more control of their own experience is going to be the new mandate of online publishing as a whole. Talking "at" people is becoming stale AT BEST, talking WITH people has ALWAYS been better..."

Yesterday we (Vyne Interactive) released Urban Epic, a Lifestyle Network focusing on Urban Music, Art, Fashion and what we call "The Revolution" - anything that deals with economics, social conflict, politics and the such. Releasing Lifestyle Networks is definitely part of what we do (scheduled to release 10 total in coming months) however; WHY we do it is really the big part of this post.

One of the biggest debates that looms around the publishing industry (behind closed doors, and in the shower in the morning) is: "Are people still reading???" - Well this really goes without saying - heck YOU are reading this, so we can forwardly say - YES people are still reading. I feel that the question really stems from two things and I could be wrong - I am a Tech/Creative Guy not a "Publisher" per say.. BUT here is my observation:

1. Economically - the "balance sheet" looks like people ARE NOT reading...
2. Emerging trends suggest that people ARE NOT READING...

So I conclude with this... "It's not that people are NOT READING, they are just reading Differently..." With all of the different forms of publishing available these days, there is ample "stuff" to read in fact - there are companies who do nothing but help people sift through all of the potential "readables". Today's Forward Thinkers are reading WHAT they want WHEN they want... It's just that simple. AND what makes it really tricky is that not only do they read WHAT they want and WHEN but now they want to be able to interject when they have something to add to the conversation... and YES there's that word again... CONVERSATION, and as soon as we understand that we have grown beyond the "Information age" and into the "Conversation age" the sooner we can get on with it!

So here is a concept... Social Publishing. I am not talking about Blogs, nope, I am talking about 90% User or in this case Reader generated content. NOW PAUSE! I know what you are thinking...

"This guy has lost HIS mind..."

I would have to agree with you, IF this was post 2005. However; with the advent of self publishing and all the other advancements that have come along and changed the landscape, what's crazy is that WE have not changed in our thinking. I know... I know... I am being brash - BUT SO ARE THE READERS!! And we can see their protest in many different forms:

1. Lower newsstand sales
2. Lower newsstand sales

OH!! Did I mention? Lower Newsstand sales... Social Publishing... 90% User generated content. Giving the Readers a platform to speak from right? The concept is indeed a bit "out there" BUT it's relevant... Ask yourself this...

"If you KNEW that an article that you wrote on a site somewhere would show up in print somewhere, would you buy the print version? Somewhere?"

Let me answer this one for you... YEP!!! By the PEOPLE for the people - Open Source content generation...

So as I "fade" this "rant"... Do not be surprised when you start seeing digital turn to print "authentically". Do not be surprised when you see the words Social Publishing spawning in this vibrant landscape...