It would seem that the Financial Reporting Council here in the 

UK feels that it should. In fact, it's proposing permitting the publication

of the annual report in online format only, which I would imagine

is viewed by quite a number of people as fairly controversial.

Indeed, there has already been some anger expressed over the move.

In a recent article in the Financial Times the FRC was quoted as saying

that "by relieving companies of the burden of providing a printed annual

report on request it would enable them to focus on making their

web versions more user friendly and searchable."

I certainly agree with these ambitions, but I also feel that an online

only version could well create a real opportunity to provide the reader

with a much greater depth of content and information too.

It will be interesting to see what response the FRC gets to the proposal,

which is out to consultation until the end of March.

Do you think it's time to move to online only?

I don't normally ask what you feel, but on this occasion I think that

it would be really interesting if everybody shared their views.

Do you think online only would be better or worse, and why? Do you think

it doesn't matter in which format the annual report is presented?

Do you think it's inevitable, whatever anybody thinks?

If you want to take a look at the article, just click on the link below,

which will ask you to register first, but don't worry, it's free and 

doesn't commit you to anything. It only takes a few seconds.

And let me know what you think about a topic that's set to provoke

strong reactions all over the world.

rep.p@creativeconsortia.com

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71dc17ba-19d5-11e0-b921-00144feab9a.htm1#axzz1AM7izmPj

Take a look at my column on www.reportwatch.net

An innovative piece of work from Network Rail, created and developed first and foremost from a web perspective. The report uses a number of interactive information graphics to introduce all of the key areas. Each image includes a number of pop-up text panels when you scroll over, which in turn provide you with an in-depth review of that particular section.

It’s been embedded into the main Network Rail website under the Community & Environment tab. A print version, which is available as a downloadable PDF, was designed by linearising the content and reusing the info graphics.

I feel that this web driven approach is one that we will see more and more during the next year or two, and is the way forward for the main annual report. It provides so much more opportunity to tell the company story.

I think Network Rail's CR report is compelling. Download the print version, to see just how well that works too:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/114.aspx

Unfortunately I feel that a great number of online annual reports don't seem to add much value over and above the printed annual report, but here are two examples that really do, both are produced by Nexxar,  (www.nexxar.com) who I believe are certainly one of the best online corporate reporting specialists at the moment.

Both have a number of very useful tools; the chart generator is especially good and allows you to even create your own slides, the download manager is very useful, good scroll over glossary, you can create your own report and there's also a tool on the BASF report that allows you to listen to the whole site.  Legal and General  uses video very well. Take some time and look around both sites,it's interesting to see what can be done and how online reports can really add some real added value. 

www.report.basf.com/2009

http://reports.legalandgeneralgroup.com/2009/ara