• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, August 30, 2012

Southern Living Adds Digital Watermarks

More Time Inc. titles are turning to Digimarc for digital watermarks in editorial content. Southern Living is incorporating Digimarc’s "Discover" platform for digital watermarking into editorial content in its September issue, which hit newsstands last week.
 
The issue highlights several of Digimarc’s special capabilities, according to the company, including integrating multiple watermarks into a single page, watermarking text, popu-labels and a "Print-to-Pin" feature, which allows readers to pin printed, high-resolution images from the magazine to their Pinterest boards.
 
Among other things, the Discover watermarks allow Southern Living readers to vote for the university that holds the "South’s best tailgate," which will also enter them in a sweepstakes to win $2,500 to host the ultimate tailgate party. In another section, readers can submit questions about gardening by scanning print illustrations on the page.
 
Last week, MyRecipes.com announced that its forthcoming cookbook, "America’s Favorite Food," will include invisible mobile watermarks from Digimarc Discover, embedded in photographs to allow readers to connect to online “Scan-It/Cook-It” features, avoiding the need to use visible QR codes. The linked digital content includes how-to videos, expert answers, a “weeknight meal planner,” similar recipes, and shopping lists. The cookbook goes on sale Sept. 11.
 
Seventeen.com Taps Mulu for E-commerce
 
Seventeen.com has partnered with mulu to help automate e-commerce linked to its editorial content online. In the new feature, a "muluBox" appears alongside Seventeen.com’s online content with recommended products based on content the user had already viewed, including videos, slide shows, or articles. In addition to enabling e-commerce, the mulu platform allows shoppers to choose to donate their loyalty points to a worthy cause -- in this case, Stomp Out Bullying. Mulu has also partnered with charities, including ASPCA, amFAR, Livestrong, CharityWater, Girl Up, and Rock the Vote. The muluBox will launch on other Hearst sites in the next few months, per the publisher.
 
Schiller Promoted to Chief Sales Officer, Hearst Digital Media
 
Geoff Schiller has been promoted from national sales director for Hearst Digital Media to chief sales officer. In his new role, Schiller will continue to work with his team of 11 national sales reps to maximize ad sales across HDM’s portfolio of 28 Web sites and 14 mobile sites, while managing relationships with Hearst’s digital clients. Under Schiller’s direction, HDM became profitable for the first time in its relatively brief history in 2011. He also led the launch of new products, including Luminate, and is taking a lead role selling HDM’s new ad solutions, including its Brand Publishing Platform.
 
Phillips To EIC, PCWorld
 
Jon Phillips has been named editor in chief of PCWorld. Phillips, who previously served as senior editor in charge of Wired.com’s Gadget Lab Channel, also worked for 16 years at Future US, where he was editor in chief for Maximum PC and editorial director for the Future US Tech Group. Phillips stated: “We see risk and innovation in everything from ultrabooks and desktop all-in-ones to the mobile devices running Microsoft software." He said he wanted to bring "more urgency and vibrancy to a reset of the brand."
 
Bekkedahl to SVP, Digital Sales, Meredith
 
Meredith Corp. announced that Carolyn Bekkedahl has been appointed senior vice president-digital sales. She joins Meredith from the Gilt Groupe, where she served as chief revenue officer for Gilt City. She will oversee digital sales operations across AllRecipes.com and the Meredith Women’s Network.

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