The Print. Online. Takes on the World’s Crowd

Tomorrow evening, a crowd funding project will be launched to kick start a locally based, globally focused online magazine.

The Print. Online. will be a monthly digital publication focused on telling real and in-depth stories from around the world by using the magic of rich media integration.

Co-founder Matt Stevenson said that the crowd funding project launch marked a step in the path of lifting the publication from an idea to reality.

‘We have been actively working on the publication for a little under 12 months, although the reality is that the idea stretches back many years.’ Mr Stevenson said.

‘We sat back and could see that there were many quality news and magazine publications in circulation, but there was a glaring gap in the market for in-depth media rich features.

‘So we set about putting together a quality publication that could bridge that gap.

‘We want to tell stories and find character changing moments rather than get caught in the rush of breaking news.

It is planned that The Print. Online. will launch in early 2014, with stories for the launch edition already well underway.

The launch edition will feature:

• an exploration of some of the challenges faced in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide,

• a photo essay and audio commentary by a photographer who was inside the Westgate shopping mall massacre in Kenya earlier this year,
• an exclusive interview with Actor and Director James Franco,
• a look at how tensions in Syria are placing pressure on Kurdistan; holding it back from becoming the tourism capital of Iraq.

‘The beauty of the publication is that we are pulling together contributions from around the globe, but we are based locally.’ Mr Stevenson said.

‘The media market is filled with long established publications with deep pockets, but we believe by building an independent and organic publication that is nimble and can adapt to the fast changing social environment, we have a chance to find clear air.

‘We’re launching a crowd funding project to help our first few editions take flight; which means helping develop the website and mobile apps, and allowing us to pay contributors who are given the time to ensure they can adequately craft an in-depth story.’

‘Stories may be told through crafted written copy, they may be through picture essays, they may be via short films; or they may be told through a combination of many media formats.
‘The form of media that the story telling takes place in depends on the story.

‘Our aim is simple, find a real story and tell it well.

Details of the Crowd Funding Launch:

Penitentiary Chapel
Corner of Brisbane and Campbell Streets Hobart
6.30pm – 8.30pm
Thursday 19th December

The Print. Online. founders are Matt Stevenson and Nic Davidson. Matt lives in Tasmania, a little island at the bottom of Australia. This is the place where Errol Flynn was born, and the Tasmanian Devil lives for now (but hopefully forever). He has worked in Banking and Finance, Politics and Sports Administration. Nic lives in a little town called Melbourne. Melbourne is the second most important city in Australia, behind Hobart. Nic is the managing director of the Design studio The Bushy Creative. Nic does creative smashingly well.

Further Information:

• The website for The Print. Online. is www.theprintonline.com
• There is a 10,000 first edition giveaway available on the publications Facebook page. www.facebook.com/theprintonline.
• The Print. Online. hopes to raise $40,000 through its indiegogo crowd funding project.
• The official crowd funding page will be available following the launch on Thursday night.
• The crowd funding launch is an open event with tickets still available via a link on either the Facebook page or website. There is no cost to attend the crowd funding launch.