David Carr writes about Conde Nast in this week's column, and makes some very good points about the potential future for journalism and the ability to tie together print and the web. In particular, he notes the success the company is having in both print and online.
My POV is that what is working here is the they print publications haven't forgotten where they started -- they are still generally long form, beautiful to look at, thought provoking. (in general). I pick up the New Yorker or Wired because they offer what I can't get anywhere else, and that includes the tactile and visual elements.
At the same time, their web properties are finding their mojo, because they are providing richer links, quick hits and fresh info, what the web news medium is all about.
Plus, I just like this paragraph from the story:
You might think that Condé Nast’s headquarters at 4 Times Square — where the September issue of Vogue is viewed as one of humankind’s crowning achievements — would be the last place to look for Web innovation. With its fat, luscious magazines and elevators full of thin, luscious people, it would seem to be the antithesis of the sneaker-wearing run-and-gun aesthetic of the Web.
A true mashup -- thin, luscious, sneaker wearing web slingers on the pages of vogue. A consummation devoutly to be wished!