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Merika · 08-22-2006, 01:21 PM

Advertisments coming to textbooks
JUSTIN POPE
Associated Press
Textbook prices are soaring into the hundreds of dollars, but in some courses this fall, students won't pay a dime. The catch: Their textbooks will have advertisments for companies including FedEx Kinko's and Pura Vida coffee.

Selling ad space keeps newspapers, magazines, Web sites and television either cheap or free. But so far, the model hasn't spread to college textbooks - partly for fear that faculty would consider advertisments undignified. The upshot is that textbooks now cost students, according to various studies, about $900 per year.

Now, a small Minnesota startup is trying to shake up the status quo in the $6 billion college textbook industry. Freeload Press will offer more than 100 titles this fall - mostly for business courses - completely free. Students, or anyone else who fills out a five-minute survey, can download a PDF file of the book, which they can store on their hard drive and print.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...n/15279859.htm

I think this is a great idea. It reminds me of the schools in WI who are pimping out there stadiums and cafeterias for pretty much the same idea. As far as advertising in college text books, I think this is a win-win situation. I hope they come up with all this and it goes national before I have to start paying for them in the next year or so for my daughter.

08-22-2006, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Merika Retired Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 13,268	Advertisments coming to college textbooks Advertisments coming to textbooks JUSTIN POPE Associated Press Textbook prices are soaring into the hundreds of dollars, but in some courses this fall, students won't pay a dime. The catch: Their textbooks will have advertisments for companies including FedEx Kinko's and Pura Vida coffee. Selling ad space keeps newspapers, magazines, Web sites and television either cheap or free. But so far, the model hasn't spread to college textbooks - partly for fear that faculty would consider advertisments undignified. The upshot is that textbooks now cost students, according to various studies, about $900 per year. Now, a small Minnesota startup is trying to shake up the status quo in the $6 billion college textbook industry. Freeload Press will offer more than 100 titles this fall - mostly for business courses - completely free. Students, or anyone else who fills out a five-minute survey, can download a PDF file of the book, which they can store on their hard drive and print. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...n/15279859.htm I think this is a great idea. It reminds me of the schools in WI who are pimping out there stadiums and cafeterias for pretty much the same idea. As far as advertising in college text books, I think this is a win-win situation. I hope they come up with all this and it goes national before I have to start paying for them in the next year or so for my daughter.