for the tablet and for the smartphone in the future of magazines?
RC: Tablets are still quite expensive in
Brazil and consequently there are relatively few of them in consumers’ hands. It will be sometime before they become ubiquitous. But the smartphone is everywhere, and growing extremely fast. It’s obvious to me that we must pay more attention to producing different types of content for the tens of millions of Brazilians who have transformed their mobile phones into virtual extensions of themselves and their lives. And we have begun to do so, with everything from business news, movie reviews and restaurant reservations to specials on soccer teams and photos and videos of beautiful women.
this period of changing circumstances for journalism and publishing, what are the things that still excite you?
INNOVATION: If you look ahead, in
RC: I’m just as enthusiastic about the opportunities and challenges that are opening up now as I was when I launched
INNOVATION: How do you see the role
my first magazine. But in my current role as chairman and editor-in-chief of Abril, I’m spending more time on strategy and editorial positioning than in actually producing anything new. I see my main function as helping guide our company in the right direction, ensure that we continue to attract and motivate the right people, and remain true to our values and committed to the development of Brazil.
regrets? What are the opportunities still open to Abril for the near future?
RC: Virtually no regrets, for I was
fortunate to have the opportunity to develop a world-class company that publishes the leading magazine in practically every one of the 23 different segments that we are in. And in the near future, I see the digital transition as both an enormous challenge and an even greater opportunity to reach, inform, entertain and influence an increasing portion of our population on a daily basis. What could be more fun, more exciting and more rewarding than that?