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"Cheap PR Stunt," sterling editorial team, and a little cash mark launch of ambitious e-newsletter.


The electronic newsletter Media Unspun is coming from the same folks who produced Media Grok To have a thorough understanding of a subject. The word comes from Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land," and it means "to drink" in Martian. Of course. But more specifically in the book, it meant to take something in so thoroughly that it becomes part of you. , a now-defunct spin-off of the equally defunct Industry Standard, both published by Standard Media International. That editorial team includes Deborah Asbrand, Michaela Cavallaro, Keith Dawson, Jen Muehlbauer, David Sims David Sims (born October 26, 1955 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former professional American football player who played running back for three seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. He led the National Football League in touchdowns in 1978 with 15. , copy editor Jim Duffy Jim Duffy may refer to multiple people:
  • Jim Duffy (journalist) (born 1966), journalist, political commentator, and Irish advisor to Australia's Republic Advisory Committee
  • Jim Duffy (football) (born 1959), the caretaker manager of Norwich City F.C.
, and the irrepressible editor Jimmy Guterman--all high flyers High flyer

High-priced and highly speculative stock that moves up and down sharply over a short period. Generally glamorous in nature due to the capital gains potential associated with them; also used to describe any high-priced stock. Antithesis of sleeper.
 in the old days of the dot-com New Economy.

"I appear to be the publisher, too," Guterman writes on the web site, "since no one else has volunteered."

Media Unspun will keep "readers up-to-date on the most important business news, show how different news outlets interpret the same information in different ways, and, if we're lucky, entertain you at the same time," according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 Guterman.

"The name has changed," Guterman continues, referring to their previous newsletter, "but the attitude remains similarly barbed barbed  
adj.
1. Having barbs.

2. Cutting; stinging: barbed criticism; barbed statements.



barb
. We unspin what the media produces and make sense out of it. We're not even naming the old newsletter here because we don't want to trade off its success. We want to build something fresh."

Guterman told NL/NL that they were approached by some big players who wanted to back them, but their "philosophy and working style" led them to launch the newsletter independently-even if that meant starting more modestly.

They are distributing Media Unspun for free weekly until March 8 (sign up for a free subscription at www.mediaunspun.com), and then daily beginning March 11, at $50/year ($39.95 introductory rate).

Although they didn't buy the earlier newsletter's database of 100,000 readers, Guterman says that when they were folding they asked subs to send in their e-mail addresses See Internet address.

e-mail address - electronic mail address
 if they were interested in what the group might do in the future--and 8,000 did just that.

"We sent the inaugural issue to those 8,000. Four percent have converted to paid subscribers, and we're still almost six weeks away from publishing the daily. Four percent, that's good, right?" Guterman asked. "With weeks still to go before the launch?"

The goal, according to the web site, is to get "readership back into the six figures during the introductory period," but Guterman told us that "we don't need that many ... mid-four figures will do."

"What's your plan?" Guterman asks himself on the web site. "We have reasonable expectations. We're not buying any Oracle back-end systems or Aeron chairs The Aeron chair is a product of Herman Miller, designed in 1994 by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf. It is an ergonomic chair which is expensive but regarded by many as very comfortable. The chair became a symbol of the rise and fall of the dot-com industry in the late 1990s. . We want our funding to last as long as possible so we're being well, cheap. We want to build a modest, solid business. Assuming all goes well, we expect to launch a second newsletter over the summer. When the newsletter goes daily, we may even add graphics to this puny pu·ny  
adj. pu·ni·er, pu·ni·est
1. Of inferior size, strength, or significance; weak: a puny physique; puny excuses.

2. Chiefly Southern U.S. Sickly; ill.
 web site."

Guterman says they are also selling ads. "The rates are great at this point, with only 8,000 subs. We have a half dozen ads so far at $800 each, That's a bargain, considering the subscribers they're reaching."

As for the self-described "cheap PR stunt," Guterman offered to clean the house or office (literally) of two subscribers chosen from the first 100 who pay up. That gained him some ink in the public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most  trade tabloid PRWeek, which contacted him.

"It turns out that not just anybody can enter the raffle," PRWeek writes; "Guterman reveals that only residents of the 'Continental 48' need apply, because 'that's all I have frequent-flier miles for.' But even if the names drawn by the Boston-based Guterman belong to West Coast addresses, 'I'll be on a plane with my mop,' he says."
COPYRIGHT 2002 The Newsletter on Newsletters LLC
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2002, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:The Newsletter on Newsletters
Date:Jan 31, 2002
Words:578
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