The Union is planning to erect a “paywall” in January, joining other newspapers in its Swift newspaper chain, as I reported the other day.
One observation that was made about the Swift plan in the Colorado Independent: “The paywalls will also restrict the reach of Swift publications, effectively sealing off content from millions of web surfers around the world, who may not care to read daily news from the Greeley Tribune, for example, but who may well land on the site when seeking to read on specific topics or people Greeley Trib reporters happen to cover.“
The Sacramento Bee, however, continues to expand its free content, tapping the region’s bloggers and other “citizen journalists.”
Here’s an example: On Wednesday morning, I wrote an item about the 128th Donation Day Parade on Sierra Foothills Report. The Bee editors contacted me and asked about posting the item on their website and Facebook page. I updated the post with more photos and that’s what happened. The Bee’s website has broad reach.
The Bee is doing this routinely — providing people in the Sacramento metro area (and beyond) with free access to expanded content that promotes our region beyond our “cul de sac.” (Our western county is experiencing aging, declining population).
As the Colorado Independent concludes: “Analysts are viewing the move with skepticism, pointing out that in the wake of a decision this past spring to suspend comment features at its sites, Swift might be betting on a short-term cash-raising strategy in a shifting media environment that rewards the long play.
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I expect that the only result of this “strategy” (if you can call shooting ones self in the foot a strategy) will be to drive people to other local sites like the Sierra Foothills Report and Yuba Net for their news and discussion fix. I know that I will never pay to read the regurgitated pablum for nitwits that is generally what appears in the union.
The Sacramento Bee has done innovative, thoughtful work in 2011. They’ve had the executive, financial and creative vision to become more expansive, not less so and it shows. The paywall erectors might want to speak with Speaker Boehner about limiting the free flow of expression and information and how it doesn’t pay great political “dividends”. In Boehner’s case he not only affected C-Spans bottom line he created a barrier between the United States House of Representatives and the very people they were elected to serve. Frankly, that’s how I see the paywall issue. Limiting–but not in a good way. It’s kind of a control-freak move if you ask me…and like Pelline has written here certainly not foolproof and short sighted at best.Kate.
No freewheeling commenting, no pay for photos, regardlelss of how good or how appropriate, or an event John hart didn’t show up at.. No sunscription paper or electronic renewal here