FTC App-Privacy Guidelines, The New Republic’s Revamp, The Atlantic’s New Native Ad Policies, Lowering App Prices to Increase Revenues, Amazon’s Digital Marketplace Patent, Publishers’ E-commerce Strategies, TFP InDesign Tip: Using Styles in Tables

Welcome to TFP’s weekly roundup of interesting and noteworthy stories from the publishing world. This week, we’re discussing the FTC’s recommended privacy guidelines for app developers, The Atlantic‘s new sponsored-content policies, The New Republic‘s redesign, increasing app revenues by lowering prices, and more.

  • The FTC has released guidelines suggesting that app developers should implement “do not track” features in their apps in addition to implementing other privacy safeguards. Though the guidelines are not binding, the consequence for those companies that don’t comply could be unwanted FTC scrutiny for potential privacy violations.
  • There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the debut of The New Republic‘s revamped print magazine, website, and tablet app. Learn more about the updates to its design and coverage focus—and the role TFP played in helping the publication begin a new era in its venerable history—on the TFP blog.
  • In response to the recent brouhaha over a Scientology ad that appeared on The Atlantic’s website, the magazine has released new native advertising guidelines that call for clearer labels for sponsored content, more judicious monitoring of reader comments, and a two-stage review process to ensure ad content aligns with publication’s brand.
  • In other app news, a Distimo study found that when app prices were reduced by $1 to $3 for a week, iPhone revenues grew 159% and downloads increased by 1665%, and iPad revenues grew 71% and downloads 871%. “Revenue from one-off fees and in-app purchases are both contributors to this increase in revenue in the long run,” Distimo noted.
  • Amazon has been granted what GeekWire described as a “broad” patent to establish a marketplace for users to sell, trade, and loan out “used” digital content, such audio files, ebooks, movies, and apps. The patent could stir up legal questions over copyright issues and whether Amazon would use it to block other, similar digital resale services.
  • Media Briefing examined the debate over whether e-commerce is an essential new revenue stream for magazine brands or a waste of their time. It offered the divergent perspectives of two publishers: Bauer Media, which is pursuing the strategy, and Dennis Publishing, which feared e-commerce efforts could impact advertising revenue.
  • InDesign‘s Tables feature provides a variety of options for designing and building all types of tables, from very basic to colorful and complex. On the TFP InDesign Tips blog, we explain step-by-step how to create a table with alternating fills and then use that formatting to create a new Table style.

This Week in Publishing appears every Friday on the TFP blog. Every week we compile interesting and noteworthy stories from the publishing world and put together a wrap-up to help our readers stay up-to-date. Think we missed something great? Leave a comment below and let us know.

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Posted by: Gina Barrett

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