EXHIBIT 99.8
 
                               INDIVIDUAL, INC.
                       8 NEW ENGLAND EXECUTIVE PARK WEST
                        BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01803
 
                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                        TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 24, 1998
 
  A Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Individual Special Meeting") of
Individual, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Individual"), will be held at the
offices of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, located at High Street Tower, 125
High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, on Tuesday, February 24, 1998, at
10:00 a.m., local time, to consider and act on the following matters:
 
  1. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Agreement
and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the "Agreement"), dated as of November
2, 1997, between Desktop Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Desktop"), and
Individual, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Individual will be
merged with and into Desktop, with Desktop continuing as the surviving
corporation (the "Merger") and (ii) each outstanding share of common stock,
par value $.01 per share ("Individual Common Stock"), of Individual will be
converted into the right to receive, and become exchangeable for, one-half (
1/2) of one share of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Desktop Common
Stock"), of Desktop.
 
  2. To transact such other matters as may properly come before the Individual
Special Meeting, including any motion to adjourn the Individual Special
Meeting to a later date to permit further solicitation of proxies, or any
postponements or adjournments thereof.
 
  Following the Merger, based on the shares of Individual Common Stock and
Desktop Common Stock outstanding as of January 9, 1998, the former holders of
Individual Common Stock will hold approximately 48.6% of the common stock of
the consolidated entity composed of Desktop and Individual and their
respective subsidiaries after the Merger (the "Combined Company Common
Stock"), and the holders of Desktop Common Stock prior to the Merger will hold
approximately 51.4% of the Combined Company Common Stock.
 
  Information relating to the above matters is set forth in the attached
Prospectus/Joint Proxy Statement. Stockholders of record as of the close of
business on January 9, 1998 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Individual Special Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
  All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Individual Special
Meeting in person. However, to ensure your representation at the Individual
Special Meeting, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed
proxy card promptly in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Robert L. Lentz
                                          Senior Vice President, Finance
                                          andAdministration, Chief Financial
                                          Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
 
Burlington, Massachusetts
January 28, 1998
 
  WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO ASSURE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES. NO POSTAGE
NEED BE AFFIXED IF THE PROXY CARD IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.