Techie and the Media

The Amanda Project

4TH STORY MEDIA PARTNERS WITH HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS FOR ITS FIRST VENTURE: THE AMANDA PROJECT, AN INTERACTIVE, COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL MYSTERY

New York, NY (June 18, 2008)—4th Story Media and HarperCollins Publishers today announced their partnership in The Amanda Project, the first multi-platform series to be written in part by its audience, girls ages 12-14. 4th Story Media, which owns all rights for the property, will produce the content for The Amanda Project with a creative team including web design agency Happy Cog, young adult authors, artists and graphic designers. HarperCollins Publishers, which is a strategic partner in the venture and an investor, has acquired the rightsto publish an eight-book The Amanda Project series worldwide.

“It feels like the art and craft of publishing great stories for children is on the brink of revolutionary change,” said Lisa Holton, founder and CEO, 4th Story Media. “We are exploring new ways of using the web to tell stories, while also leading kids back to the joys of reading.

By combining talented authors with creative web designers we are fusing traditional storytelling with the interactive world of social networking, online games, and user-generated content.We are thrilled to introduce 4th Story Media with the launch of The Amanda Project and are delighted to be partnering with the exceptional team at HarperCollins to bring this series to life.”

“HarperCollins is very pleased to join forces with 4th Story Media on its first multi-platform series,” said Susan Katz, President and Publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books. “Book publishing is increasingly digital in nature and HarperCollins Children’s, as a leader of innovative publishing, understands and embraces initiatives that engage readers in exciting new ways. The traditional book/web connection is evolving every day, and The Amanda Project takes it one step further by allowing readers to not only discuss the story but help create it as well.”

Amanda Valentino is the elusive, charismatic, and alluring new girl at Evansville Township
High School who arrives mid-year, leaves abruptly, and indelibly changes the lives of everyone around her in the process. Her story will be told across a variety of media in addition to the books—a social website where readers can interact with and become characters in the mystery, a related series of blogs chronicling the story as it unfolds, clues and seed posts on satellite sites, downloadable music and official and user-generated merchandise. Amanda’s fate will begin to unfold across the web during the fall of 2008, through the launch of the T.A.P. website in early 2009, and continue into the publication of the first book in Fall 2009.

Contact:
For 4th Story Media: Lisa Herling
917-912-4273, herling@fourthstorymedia.com

For HarperCollins: Sandee Roston, Executive Director of Publicity
212-261-6796, sandee.roston@harpercollins.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Welcome To The You-Name-It Zone

I get about six to 10 newletters a day. I like to read. I like to read a lot. And as such, I come across these odd little bits of information — I call them nuggets of nonsense — that amuse me when I think about how far we have come, where people are seeking new audiences, and just what programmers think is of value to brands.

Today’s nugget of nonsense was a small mention that I saw about a new multimedia company (they shall remain nameless but have developed content for online and television) that has launched a Web site that caters to a certain over-popularized, dramatized and satirized group of ethic Americans.

Forget about who it is — that is not the point. The thing that caught my eye was the fact that someone out there figured that heritage was a viable target. Interesting.

So, being ever so serious, I checked it out. Now, I am a true believer in “know they audience.” I am also a true believer in the value of the micro audience or audiences that I would consider hyper- influential. Example, invitees of TED conferences, academics, volunteers and women.

But where I have a hard time seeing value is in creating audiences that are narrowly defined, but not by an indiscrete variable. For example, athletes. Yes, athletes may share a common interest, but each has their own nuances. Soccer, baseball, swimming and golf. All sports, but brand and advertising viability is vastly different.

Getting back to my multimedia company that has launched this content site targeting Americans of a certain ethnic background — you are off the mark here. What you should have done is targeted your content to deliver to a more neutral indiscrete variable (like IFC does to independent film buffs) or narrowed yourselves down to a group that is more discrete (NFL Network).

As its stands, the content is modestly appealing; but the value to advertisers and brands will likely remain unattractive.

Peter Buffett and Akon - An Odd Couple with a Powerful Message

Full disclosure, I work with Peter but this is a great initiative.  Get involved people and yes, you can make a difference!!!

Question: Is There Something I Can Do? Answer: YES!

Peter Buffett and Akon are happy to let you know what they are passionate about. But what are you passionate about?

Or are you so overwhelmed with what’s going on in the world that you don’t know where to start? Or think that when people are giving millions to a cause (or billions!), how can a few dollars make a difference?

Well… a few dollars - a little time - even a text message can make a difference.

On this site you’ll find places to start getting involved. You’ll have the ability to talk about what you’re into and why — share your stories of how you’re making a difference — and meet others who are trying to do the same.

http://istheresomethingicando.com

A Fresh Look At An Old Standby: The Question Is, Why?

OK — I admit it. I was one of "those" girls. The ones that didn't play much with dolls, wear makeup, or ever key into the color pink. Actually, I think wearing the color could cause me to go into anaphylactic shock — but that is a story for another time. My point is, I was one of those girls who loved the geeky things — I was all about the original "Battlestar Galactica." I had all the "Stars Wars" models.

I remember my mom gave me a Holly Hobby sewing machine for Christmas when I was eight. Not knowing what it was or how to use it, I promptly borrowed a screwdriver from my father's tool box, cracked the base open, pulled out the motor and tried to rig it inside my hand-modeled Death Star to see if I could get it to fly. Needless to say, I got in trouble for that.

But I guess part of the problem was that I never really got the "girly" thing. So when I opened the paper this morning to find that Strawberry Shortcake was getting a makeover for the 21st century, I almost keeled over. First of all, she was "sweet" enough as she was. Second of all, why does the update mean that she no longer has a cat but a cell phone, and a little bit of pink lipstick as opposed to pink cheeks? I am sorry, but since when did a brand aimed at pre-tweens need to have a doll with a cell phone?

Which brings me to my next observation: Is Hollywood so out of new ideas that we need to bring back old ones with a twist? I am talking about bringing back shows like "Password" and "The Dating Game" and others from my youth. Not that I mind, don't get me wrong. It's just that I would hope that somewhere, out there, in the vast abyss that is the creative genius, that someone, anyone, would be able to come up with something, well, new.

Then again, you are reading the diatribe of a girl who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about when it came to the Smurfs or "American Idol." Then again, I have been a closet Hello Kitty and "Family Feud" fan for years — so maybe I do know a little something about franchises that last.