Wired frames 5,000 subscribers

The first 5,000 subscribers to Wired magazine who responded to an offer in its April issue are now receiving a personalized July issue -- personalized, that is, with their picture on the cover. According to a New York Times story, Wired, in partnership with Xerox, invited readers to upload their pictures to a web site; it appears on the cover of the issues with the headline "You Are Here". The cover story is about the increasing personalization of the online world.

Wired, which is owned by Condé Nast, publicized the promotion to its subscribers via e-mail, magazine inserts and on its Web site. And while the Xerox name is not on the covers themselves, the promotions and web site made clear that the project depended on software from Xerox and the company’s iGen3 110 digital production press.

Neither Xerox nor Condé Nast would disclose costs, but since neither had to farm tasks out to third parties, both say it was not very expensive.

“We didn’t make money on this, but it really didn’t cost anything,” said Drew Schutte, vice president and publishing director of Wired Media.