Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning on your home computer to read the

day's newspaper. Well, it's not as far-fetched as it may seem. In fact, both local San Francisco

papers are investing a lot of money to try and get to service just like that started.

Science editor Steve Newman reports on one person already using the brand new system.

Seventeen stories up in his fashionable North Beach apartment.

Richard Halloran is calling a local number

that will connect him with a computer in Columbus, Ohio.

Meanwhile across town in this less than fashionable cubbyhole

of the San Francisco examiner,

these editors are programming today's copy of the paper into that same Ohio computer.

On the telephone connection between these two terminals is made, the newest form of electronic journalism lights up Mr. Halloran's television with just about everything

the examiner prints in its regular edition. That is with the exception of

pictures, ads in the comics. Eight newspapers around the country are currently

in the computer network and within the next few weeks

three others will join in.

This is an experiment.

We're trying to figure out what it's going to mean to us as editors and reporters and

what it means to the home user and we're not in it to make money.

We're probably not going to lose a lot, but we aren't going to make much either.

It's... And we're not in it to make money.

We're probably not going to lose a lot,

but we aren't going to make much either.

...