Not That We’re Suggesting The Metrics Are Wrong

March 14th, 2005 · No Comments
by Booksquare

Far be it for us to read something and wonder if perhaps someone is looking through the wrong end of the binoculars, but, well, that does seem to be the case for Mr. Atwood:

“A big part of the motivation for newspapers to charge for their online content is not the revenue it will generate, but the revenue it will save, by slowing the erosion of their print subscriptions,” Mr. Atwood said. “We’re in the midst of a long and painful transition.”

Let us get this straight. Print subscriptions are dropping. Online readership is growing. Online ad sales are up. Hmm, yes, to us that suggests papers should start charging to access content. After all, the surefire way to build readership outside your immediate community is to create as many barriers to access as possible.

Don’t get us wrong — we understand the need to make money (apparently is pays for something called “food”), but there are so many possible models. Why not try something innovative? Heck, why not try bigger ads?

And, yes, we’re whining because this proposal would make it harder to bring you all the fine reading options we’re dedicated to providing.

File Under: Square Pegs