• by Masha Geller , June 18, 2002

@d:Tech Los Angeles is scheduled to kick off with a keynote from Orbitz’ Michael Sands in a few short hours and while I don’t dare predict the quality of the show to come, I will say that the day is beginning on a good note.

Yesterday, a few things happened that spell hope for the industry. First off, Salon.com said that it has achieved a significant milestone - 39,500 paid subscribers. The company began charging for subscriptions to its premium content and services last year as the market for online ads began drying up. During its fourth fiscal quarter, the company added 7,400 new subscribers, who pay $30 a year. Although advertising sales continued to be weak in the fourth fiscal quarter, Salon said that it sees signs that the market will rebound later this year or next and that advertising will be its largest revenue source going forward. Who said there was no future in paid content?

Second, New York Times Digital said domestic traffic to its NYTimes.com site rose 2.7% in May to 7.14 million visitors from 6.95 million in April. For a site trying to make a difference in the online ad world with surround and site sessions, that is good news indeed.

Third, U.S. newspaper companies predicted rosier profits for the second quarter, thanks to a rebound from a savage slump in advertising that has taken its toll on the whole media industry. Publishing powerhouses Gannett Co. Inc., Tribune Co., The New York Times Co. and Knight Ridder Inc. all said at a conference in New York that they were emerging from a slump in the advertising market brought on by the economic downturn and the Sept. 11 attacks.

And finally, having taken a quick look around the booths soon to open for business on the @d:Tech exhibit floor, I’m happy to report several sightings of companies no one has ever heard of. Yes, that means they’re new, and yes, it means they’re optimistic enough about the future to launch something. Granted, they have funny names like GetOutaHere.com (which is strangely reminiscent of last year’s AAAA media conference where one gentleman tried to sell the idea of refurbishing antique ambulances into outdoor ad vehicles), but the enthusiasm is indeed encouraging. More details to come.