Comments on: An Online Dilemma, and an Opportunity, for the News http://451heat.com/2009/04/08/an-online-dilemma-and-a-opportunity-for-the-news/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:53:26 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://451heat.com/2009/04/08/an-online-dilemma-and-a-opportunity-for-the-news/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Jeff Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:33:41 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=366#comment-32 I don't think newspapers will see the same willingness with consumers as the music industry did. For one, people will listen to a song multiple times. More than likely, they will only read an article once -- how much is that worth? My feeling is newspapers should be using free online content for breaking news and stories people can find anywhere. Use that to build readership, and use the paid section of their Web site and/or their hard copies for longer, more developed stories. Basically, stories that typically are found in Time or the New Yorker or the Atlantic. I also agree, the quality of journalism (and writing) needs to greatly improve before they start charging. Is it any surprise the fall of the Globe has coincide with their declining standards for journalists? How much would you pay for daily pictorials about Gisele and Tom? I don’t think newspapers will see the same willingness with consumers as the music industry did. For one, people will listen to a song multiple times. More than likely, they will only read an article once — how much is that worth?

My feeling is newspapers should be using free online content for breaking news and stories people can find anywhere. Use that to build readership, and use the paid section of their Web site and/or their hard copies for longer, more developed stories. Basically, stories that typically are found in Time or the New Yorker or the Atlantic.

I also agree, the quality of journalism (and writing) needs to greatly improve before they start charging. Is it any surprise the fall of the Globe has coincide with their declining standards for journalists? How much would you pay for daily pictorials about Gisele and Tom?

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