Have you Tasted your News Today?

by nicole ~ March 27, 2009

At a time when traditional print media is struggling, one ink manufacturer thinks they might have the answer to increasing advertising revenue: flavored paper. 

According to this article, “Have Your Morning Paper for Breakfast,” from Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate, Carlstadt-based US Ink has created what they call “Taste-it Notes.”  The article explains that the Taste-It Notes work in a similar manner to dissolvable breath strips and medication, and come in hygienically sealed packets which can be inserted into print advertising.  In the NBC article US Ink President Michael J. Dodd says:

“We believe Taste-it Notes could be a breakthrough in newspaper advertising - at a time when newspaper executives are increasingly interested in innovative solutions that will assist their print advertisers to increase revenue and differentiate their brand.”

I first heard about this last night when I caught a glimpse of the local NBC 11 PM news and did a bit of a double take.  It seems very futuristic and Willy Wonka-esque as the above article notes.  This definitely seems like a new direction in print advertising, but will it work?  Personally I think this type of advertising might pique people’s curiosity.  I mean what does pizza flavored paper taste like?  In the long run, I’m not so sure if it can really save the newspaper industry.  Here’s a sample of what the blogosphere thinks so far:

editorsweblog.org

http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2009/03/lickable_newspapers_could_they_save_prin.php

Veggie Bistro

http://veggie-bistro.blogspot.com/2009/03/would-you-lick-newspaper.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/not-even-lickable-ads-will-save-newspapers-2009-3

Nicole Amato is an Account Executive at Mediashop PR and a graduate of Northeastern University with a BA in Journalism.