RR Donnelley & Sons has acquired Journalism Online, a Web-based publishing service, the companies said March 24. The deal will allow RR Donnelley to incorporate Journalism Online’s Press Plus technology, which enables publishers to offer readers a range of online subscription options, into its services.
Press Plus lets publishers offer alternative subscription packages, such as metered, mobile or tablet options, or out-of-market access, to their readers. It also allows consumers to purchase paid content by daily or weekly passes, print and online bundles, or monthly or annual subscriptions, among other options.
“Press-Plus enhances our offering by opening new avenues for publishers to generate incremental revenue,” said Doug Fitzgerald, EVP of RR Donnelley, via e-mail. “The experience has been that publishers who are using Press-Plus for metered access to websites and other digital products retain their online ad revenue and readership, while adding incremental revenue from online subscriptions.”
Chicago, Ill.-based RR Donnelley is a 146-year-old company with more than 60,000 customers worldwide. It is the world’s largest commercial printer.
Steven Brill, founder of The American Lawyer magazine and Court TV, and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz manage Journalism Online. Brill and Crovitz founded the company along with Leo Hindrey, a former media executive at Yes Network and the San Francisco Chronicle. Journalism Online launched Press-Plus in 2010.
An RR Donnelley representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
