Sorry, one more time …
Three press authorities far more august than me also say papers are crazy for not charging for a web site … here they are …
New York Times editor Bill Keller, in Gawker: “A lot of people in the news business, myself included, don’t buy as a matter of theology that information ‘wants to be free.’ Really good information, often extracted from reluctant sources, truth-tested, organized and explained — that stuff wants to be paid for.” … http://tinyurl.com/awdwev
Legal/journo guru Steve Brill, in American Journalism Review: “The press has to stop committing suicide by giving journalism away for free. Start charging for it, start believing in your product.” http://tinyurl.com/apzdq8
Former Wall Street media hotshot Henry Blodget, in Silicon Alley Insider: The NYT “should explore charging an on-line subscription fee” in a hybrid form a la the Wall Street Journal. … http://tinyurl.com/8pzu25