Express Group outlines its online plans

FARZAD JAMAL group internet development director at Express Newspapers has outlined his firm's online plans.

Jamal was speaking at a monthly dinner organised by Netimperative, and had some choice things to say about his competitors and the internet market generally.

Jamal said the group, which owns OK Magazine, could use that content to offer its readers downloadable pictures of Jordan and the like.

He said: "We already have a massive brand and I'm breaking down the barriers with the sales force and the editors about integrating the content."

Newspapers such as the Guardian and the Times were effectively giving away money, he said.

The Northern & Shell Group would integrate both offline and online wings, with the different brands being the important part. It always comes back to the monetisation of the brands, he said. The Group will continue publishing the print publications but will allow readers to take advantage of the online site.

The online sites "could throw a lifeline to our readers tomorrow," he said. "It's a myth people are moving away from newspapers. The Holy Grail is the successful merger of old media and new media."

He said that right now print media remains dominant, and will be so for the next 10 years. The Express Group is testing several ideas including offering World Cup content for mobile phones. Through a web site called the Dailysnack, the Group will be able to offer subscriptions and reader offers such as downloads and podcasts, with readers paying, for example, a monthly fee.

The Group's web sites draw several hundred of thousands of unique users a week, he said. µ

L'INQ
Net Imperative