Editor links 'Times' to Internet

University alumnus Martin Minsenholtz, newly-named president of the New York Times Electronic Media Co., discussed his views on the ever-increasing role of electronic media in society at the Annenberg School for Communication Friday. Sitting casually at a table, Minsenholtz read from a prepared speech, occasionally glancing at his audience of nearly 50 students and faculty. Minsenholtz explained that he is responsible for getting the New York Times onto the Internet, possibly as soon as January 1996. He began with a brief history of electronic technology and the opposition it faced in the 1980s. He also referred to the '80s business interest of "chasing technology in search of a market" that followed the legacy of film and television. A decade ago, news on interactive technology was produced only on demand, he said. Minsenholtz concluded his 20-minute speech by discussing the process of putting the New York Times on line. He explained that the paper does not "just want to shovel the newspaper on line," and that editorial control will be consistent with that in the print media. He followed his speech with a question-and-answer session with the audience. Minsenholtz also specifically noted changes and additions planned for the New York Times on line, including annotation of editorials interaction capabilities between the readers and the newspaper. Minsenholtz, who majored in psychology as an undergraduate, returned to the University to pursue graduate studies at Annenberg in the late '70s.