Publishers Join Printers In XML Effort

Posted on June 30, 2000

Several leading printing and publishing companies have jointly agreed to test electronic formats for communications between publishers and printers. The initial members of the team include publishing companies Meredith Corporation, The New York Times Company Magazine Group and The Reader's Digest Association. Printing company members include Quad/Graphics, Quebecor World and R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company. In addition, CDS Fulfillment is participating to ensure compatibility with list management and postal requirements.

The team is currently evaluating XPP, which stands for ``XML for Publishers and Printers,'' as a powerful and contemporary tool to facilitate publisher-to-printer technical data transfer. XML is the abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language, considered the premier emerging protocol for Internet-based transactions. During the initial proof-of-concept phase, spanning 90 days, the team will attempt to demonstrate that its proposed protocol can precisely convey the regional, demographic and production requirements of complex consumer magazines, catalogs and other printed products.

When its preliminary work is complete, the team intends to share its findings with other interested parties with the goal of developing open standards for the industry.