NY Times Co. Appoints First-Ever 'Futurist-in-Residence'

By: Joe Strupp From the company that brought you the first-ever perfume critic comes what appears to be another first for the newspaper industry -- "futurist-in-residence." The New York Times Company announced Tuesday the appointment of Michael Rogers, a former Washington Post Company executive and Newsweek.com general manager to the newly-created title. [NOTE: The original version of this story had suggested, in this paragraph, that the hiring was by the New York Times newspaper.]

In a release, the Times described the new position as a one-year consultant appointment to work with The New York Times Company's research and development unit. Spokeswoman Stacy Green compared the appointment to that of the paper's public editor, in that it would be a rotating position that changes each year.

"When the year comes around, they can have someone fresh," said Green. "He will be meeting with different units and bringing his ideas to advise the [R&D] group." Rogers' appointment is the latest expansion of the company's research and development unit, which was created last year to develop new strategies for online and other innovations among the company's products, Green said.

"Michael has unique insights into the confluence of digital technology, consumer behavior and journalism," Michael Zimbalist, vice president of the research and development operations, said in a statement. "As futurist-in-residence he will help us to continuously deliver the innovative information products and services our readers expect from the Times Company."

Times officials offered few other details about what Rogers role would specifically include. But given his extensive background in online and new media innovations, it is clear his role is to expand the paper's push toward more Web and other interactive operations.

Rogers has most recently overseen Practical Futurist, a consulting
firm he founded in 2004, where he works with startups and major media companies, the Times stated. He also writes the "Practical Futurist" column for MSNBC. He was vice president of The Washington Post Company's new media division from 1995 to 2004, while serving as editor and general manager of Newsweek.com, the Times stated.

In 1983, he joined Newsweek to create the magazine's technology section. Mr. Rogers wrote for Rolling Stone magazine from 1972 to 1983 and co-founded Outside magazine in 1977.

Rogers past experience includes producing the world's first CD-ROM newsmagazine for Newsweek in 1993, which the Times said was "a prototype for interactive television." He later developed interactive services on Prodigy, America Online and a series of Internet sites including the award-winning "Parents' Guide to Children's Software," which also appeared in CD-ROM and book form.

Rogers has a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Stanford University.