In my last column, I talked about QR codes, which are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned and read by mobile phones. Today, I'd like to show you how QR codes can be adapted for use in journalism.

Editorial: If a consumer has a camera-equipped phone and has the right software, which is readily available and typically free (see last week's post), he or she could scan a QR Code using that mobile phone to get all kinds of information. An editor might publish a QR code with a text message subscription, so that if a reader happens to enjoy reading politics stories, she could scan in the QR code and automatically subscribe to text updates. Editors might create a QR code containing the URL to a website or other online resources for a particular investigative story. How about using it to publish a digital sidebar that can be read from a mobile phone?

Business: On this side, the possibilities may seem more immediate and clear. Publishers could offer coupons or special offers - this would benefit the consumer, but it would also give you the ability to drive online traffic from your print product! Your office could use QR codes in marketing campaigns or even to run reader contests. The list goes on, and the possibilities depend mainly on your creative thinking.

What do you think? How are folks using QR codes in the countries where you are based? Have you seen interesting uses for them on the editorial and business sides of journalism? Do you have your own success story to share?