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The Fate of The Free Newspaper

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the it-won't-outlive-heat-death dept.

jm92956n writes "We've all become accustomed to the wide availability of newspapers and other media online, almost all of which is available for free. Today, however, The New York Times (free registration required; how ironic!) is running an article that questions the long term viability of that business model. Interestingly, the Times now has more online readers than print readers. Is the era of free news content about to end?"

5 of 459 comments (clear)

  1. free news content by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

    >> Is the era of free news content about to end?

    Paypal me $1 for the answer.

  2. So wait... by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you saying that having no source of revenue is a poor buisness model? Whell now you tell me, thats just great.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  3. Waste of a tree? I think not... by arcite · · Score: 4, Funny
    I'm not too sure about allure, but if you are anything like the common spy (or covert operative, black-op...ect), reading a newspaper is a great disguise.

    Tip: For added camouflage, poke little 'eye' holes through one side and be rendered practically invisible!

  4. Re:Payment is the problem by justforaday · · Score: 4, Funny

    Flat rate for a lot of stuff would appeal to a lot of people a whole lot more.

    This would be possible if only one or two media companies owned everything. Too bad things aren't going that direction...

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
  5. Re:Tradeoff? by CausticPuppy · · Score: 4, Funny

    he weight. The portability. The convenience.

    Exactly. Not to mention the other uses.
    Have you ever used a laptop to line a bird cage? The keys get sticky.
    Or house train a dog? You can really injure a puppy if you discipline it using the online version of NYT on your full-tower box.
    Although some laptops seem to run hot enough to start fires, using a "paper" newspaper is a much better idea for a fireplace.

    Paper gives you much better blanket coverage when sleeping on the subway. Chances are that if a bum has a laptop, he won't be needing to sleep on the subway anyway. It's also much harder to discreetly spy/follow somebody on the street if you're trying to walk around holding a laptop in front of your face.

    Paper newspapers will never go away.

    --
    -CausticPuppy "Of all the people I know, you're certainly one of them." -Somebody I don't know