Hyper-Media

Trincoll Spawns a Great One

By Chris Marvin

Chief of Staff

nline media has exploded in the last year. In that time alone dozens of new magazines made their debut on the Web. This budding new area in publishing offers flexibility for the up-and-coming, in that anyone with a server is able to put out a mag. It also offers a kind of equalizer between the small guy and Mr Big Conglomerate. Over the internet all that matters is if it doesn't suck. Crisp does not suck.
Crisp was the brainchild of Anthony and Paul Tedesco, two brothers from Lexington, Massachussets. They are now based in New York City, the center of activity for the design and on-line communities. From their small office, they coordinate the goings on of over 100 contributors at Crisp, a magazine that stretches the limits of its medium.
Crisp has many advantages over the larger companies that have attempted to break into the WWW publishing scene. The most important is that design is the major factor in producing a successful Web publication. The design of Crisp is implemented by Paul Tedesco, who is no stranger to this genre. He was a founding father of the Trincoll Journal, the first weekly 'zine on the WWW, and currently works for Conde Nast's Web Publishing section, launching online Mags such as Epicurious.
Because it is designed and published wholly electronically there are none of the by-products which are usually associated with the publication of a glossy print mag. At the same time, because of the capabilities of the Internet, they are able to utilize full motion video, sound, and fantastic images.
The magazine itself is a changing, evolving entity of its own. It grows daily, with new features and columns by experienced writers and staff. The main idea of the zine is to be a forum for under 30 year olds to come together and benefit from the expertise and knowledge of their contemporaries in the advertising and media communities. It is made up of two main areas, as well as a chat-room. Contents and Crisp is well on its way to becoming an internet main-stay. The sight has already netted Point Survey's "Top 5% of the Internet" award, as well as commendations from Folio and Advertising Age. With almost no start-up money Paul, Anthony and T. Norm Elia have created a comprehensive resource as well as a great view. As long as the content stays on the same level or continues to improve, this will be one to watch.