The New York Times announced today:
Starting in early 2011, visitors to NYTimes.com will get a certain number of articles free every month before being asked to pay a flat fee for unlimited access. Subscribers to the newspaper’s print edition will receive full access to the site.
This is what the Peoria Journal Star ought to do. I’ve often wondered why I should keep subscribing to the print edition of the Journal Star when its local content is available for free online. It seems like such a business model is ultimately self-defeating. Offering full web access only to subscribers is a reasonable plan. The question I have is: Will they offer a web-only subscription at a reduced rate from their print subscription price?
Be careful what you wish for. I would hate to think I actually had to pay to read about another museum flub-up. Besides, who needs another local news source when we have the Peoria Chronicle!!!
The NYTimes tried this before and failed. It won’t work on the web. People will just read its competitors. Same for PJStar.
As for PJStar, there are many articles in print that are not on its website. The paper can be carried anywhere, clipped easily, etc. It’s a huge mistake to give up the print edition for some mistaken idea that all the news and info is on the web. It isn’t.
I will probably keep paying for the PJS for the reasons Elaine gives. Also, I often use the coupons.
On-line or in-print, the Journal Star sucks.
I only get it because my wife wants it.
I am in a world of hurt if all the newspapers start charging for web access. I regularly read a 1/2 dozen newspaper websites and depending on the subscription price, it could get very expensive if all the newspapers started to charge. I thought the websites generated dollars for their respective entities through advertisements placed on those sites?
The JS won’t have a website if they keep giving it all away for free.
The Quincy Herald Whig has a good system I think. They charge $13 a month for the whole paper online every day. You get all of their content. However, on their free side you only get a few local stories, and sports.
I pay the $13 a month and think it is well worth it. I read the Peoria Journal Star, and the Registar Mail online, and never understand why they put everything up for nothing. Why would someone like me want to subscribe to the actual paper? (I don’t use coupons)