Go Beyond Mere 'FMI'

ANN 04.01.07 SPECIAL EDITION: For the young, the hip, and those with teenagers, you know that TMI stands for "too much information."

Your children, your colleagues, and your friends, are first to let you know when you've moved into that amorphous area called "TMI." ("My husband and I saw this movie and when we got home..." TMI!!!!!)

While ANN is not going to take it beyond the realm of good taste -- well, in most cases --  for those readers who want to know even more about a particular story... and for whom FMI, or "for more information" doesn't meet their needs, ANN is rolling out its new TMI links beginning July 1.

According to Jim "Zoom" Campbell, ANN publisher and CEO, the need for TMI has risen in recent months.

"Readers want to go behind the 'news' and find out more about the people and businesses who are the players in the stories we write," he said. "And as the world's leading aviation and aerospace publication, we see it as our mission to fill these emerging needs. We have the talent, the technology, and the vision to bring more to our audience."

Managing Editor Rob Finfrock agrees. "We live in a 24/7 news cycle and here at ANN we are very aware of that. When our readers start asking for more information about a story, we know it's time to rethink what we do and provide added-value for them; thus TMI."

Finfrock also sees the constant stream of celebrity and entertainment news, if you can call it that, as having an impact on what people, even aviation folks, want to know.

"There are people out there who follow every move that Britney Spears makes; they want to know EVERYTHING. With news emerging at such a digital clip, even the tabloids can't keep up. It's up to the online media like ourselves." (Note to ANN readers: Aero-News will NOT be following Britney Spears.)

An example of TMI? Say we have a story about a pilot who is relieved of his command in a commercial airline because of an alcohol-based situation. TMI might include interviews with his wife and children. And the neighbors. And his in-laws.

Another example: Schools for aviation in India are graduating pilots, some as young as 20 years old. TMI: What was their GPA in high school? Were they ever sent to the principal's office? How many girlfriends did they have? How do they plan to invest the money that they are going to be making?

The breadth of TMI is staggering. You already get it from television and through online celebrity sites. It's time for ANN to jump on board.

And no, Jim Campbell is not the father of Anna Nicole's baby (no matter what he says -- Managing Editor's note.)

TMI: www.aero-news.net/GetMoreFromANN.cfm, www.aero-news.net/FAQs.cfm