Comments on: Paid content won’t save newspapers http://www.lanniebyrd.com/2009/04/10/paid-content-wont-save-newspapers/ Converged media notes Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:07:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Another paid content model | Lannie Byrd http://www.lanniebyrd.com/2009/04/10/paid-content-wont-save-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Another paid content model | Lannie Byrd Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:25:47 +0000 http://lanniebyrd.com/?p=572#comment-121 [...] (see comment) sent me a Business Week article this week about the latest attempt to charge for online content [...] [...] (see comment) sent me a Business Week article this week about the latest attempt to charge for online content [...]

]]> By: Mitch Bettis http://www.lanniebyrd.com/2009/04/10/paid-content-wont-save-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Mitch Bettis Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:49:49 +0000 http://lanniebyrd.com/?p=572#comment-117 It's interesting these comments come from someone who has her organization funded significantly by public tax dollars. (Something also tells me that, with the Times' financial troubles lately, it wouldn't mind having its $10 million per year back in the bank). NPR has done great work with "micro payments" from the individuals to fund its journalistic endeavors. However, I'll take her more seriously when she's completely off the public dime and fully competing in the marketplace. Yes, paid content isn't the single savior for news organizations. It is, however, part of a healthy mix that could include online ads (banner, text, classified, etc.), micropayments, etc. Newspapers have suffered a great deal from self-inflicted wounds — one of which is giving away content. However, UAMS doesn't give away all of its services. Ford doesn't give away its vehicles. Nike doesn't give away its shoes. Why do newspaper owners think they can give away the valuable, expensive content they create? If our newspapers are creating worthwhile, interesting, community-oriented publications, the public will pay for it. Advertisers will support the endeavor, too. Newspapers (online and "dead tree") still attract the most affluent, most educated, most civic-minded people in our communities. Those people are prime ad targets. I have no problem subscribing to the Wall Street Journal's online edition, and I don't have a problem subscribing to the Democrat-Gazette's online edition. I also have no problem subscribing to my local paper's print edition. The content is important to me, and I'm willing to pay to get it. The onus is on the newspaper to create relevant content, and the community will support that with subscriptions, ads and alternate payment methods. It’s interesting these comments come from someone who has her organization funded significantly by public tax dollars. (Something also tells me that, with the Times’ financial troubles lately, it wouldn’t mind having its $10 million per year back in the bank).

NPR has done great work with “micro payments” from the individuals to fund its journalistic endeavors. However, I’ll take her more seriously when she’s completely off the public dime and fully competing in the marketplace.

Yes, paid content isn’t the single savior for news organizations. It is, however, part of a healthy mix that could include online ads (banner, text, classified, etc.), micropayments, etc.

Newspapers have suffered a great deal from self-inflicted wounds — one of which is giving away content. However, UAMS doesn’t give away all of its services. Ford doesn’t give away its vehicles. Nike doesn’t give away its shoes. Why do newspaper owners think they can give away the valuable, expensive content they create?

If our newspapers are creating worthwhile, interesting, community-oriented publications, the public will pay for it. Advertisers will support the endeavor, too. Newspapers (online and “dead tree”) still attract the most affluent, most educated, most civic-minded people in our communities. Those people are prime ad targets.

I have no problem subscribing to the Wall Street Journal’s online edition, and I don’t have a problem subscribing to the Democrat-Gazette’s online edition. I also have no problem subscribing to my local paper’s print edition. The content is important to me, and I’m willing to pay to get it.

The onus is on the newspaper to create relevant content, and the community will support that with subscriptions, ads and alternate payment methods.

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