In the unabridged cut 'n' paste below, the editor of the News and Tribune explains the decision to erect a pay wall, to meter your peeping inside, and to shift comments to Facebook -- where people with real names typically make none of the snide and nasty comments ... er, never mind.
To be honest, I've always maintained that I'd pay for on-line content provided two conditions were met.
First, that the price be lower than antiquated dead tree service, and second, that the publisher-Hanson-ordained video-arcade-style ads go the fug away.
C'mon, it's 2013; one shouldn't be compelled to worry where the mouse's eye roams, lest another of the 'Bama-pension-system-inspired childlike web annoyances be activated. It's just a flip of the switch, right?
So if I pay, jiggle the toggle and silence the dentist.
It appears the price indeed will be lower, and the editor has promised (they're periodically honored, except in 2011) to get back with us with regard to the Hansons, so I suppose we'll see what happens next. My guess is that Bluegill votes against using any blog revenue to pay for the 'Bune's Clark County-centric content, which is quite wise, considering the blog has no revenue. It's a labor of bile, this ... powered by good old-fashioned alcohol, tins of kippers and the occasional nap.
Ladies and gents, give it up for Shea Van Hoy ... but why not the publisher Hanson? I mean, it's proverbial.
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October 16, 2013
VAN HOY: Website changes begin today; Full access starts; News and Tribune shifting to Facebook platform for web comments
By SHEA VAN HOY
shea.vanhoy@newsandtribune.com
— I had a Facebook “discussion” recently with a few people about the past, present and future of journalism.
Opinions differed on the state of journalism, but I think all agreed that the way news is delivered has changed drastically over the past 15 years.
At my first newspaper job in Kokomo in 1998, our website had just started, and we didn’t really think about writing content specifically for the website, and certainly not for smart phones or tablets, which were years away from becoming a primary means for people to consume news.
Most reporters did not take photos, none of ours shot video and the real debate in the newsroom was when to post an article to the website, as to not “scoop ourselves.”
Soon after I started in Kokomo, the newspaper experimented with charging a fee for viewing
Not sticking with the paid-site plan was a mistake, in my opinion, and the belief that newspapers should charge for
Our reporters, photographers, editors and
With that in mind, starting today visitors to newsandtribune.com will see a notice informing them of how many articles they have remaining for free before they will need to pay for what we’re calling Total Access.
Subscribers to the print edition will see their rates rise slightly, but they also will get full access to digital content. We must increase our rates to pay for the technology required for us to stay relevant in an ever-changing media world.
Those subscribers will get the print product and
Those who have been reading the paper
This is the way of the world — media outlets around the globe are charging for
Those with questions about Total Access or a digital subscription should call our circulation department at 812-206-2107 or 206-2108.
WEB COMMENTS SHIFT TO FACEBOOK
One of the highlights — and lowlights — of my day as an editor is reading and approving reader comments on our articles and columns at newsandtribune.com.
To clarify, it’s really approving most of them and deleting a few others.
Every so often, a reader takes offense to a comment posted on our website. Believe me, some of the ones we don’t approve would shock you. A handful of the comments are just sickening and make me wonder what would possess someone to take the time to make such heartless posts.
There have been comments making fun of an interview subject’s appearance; there have been taunts aimed at high school athletes; there have been threats; and there have even been very negative comments on a person’s obituary listing
That’s about as low as it gets.
As many people know, the process can be anonymous if the reader chooses to use a fake name or email address — or no name at all. There’s not any real accountability, but we’ve attempted to manage the system as best as possible and only rarely received complaints.
That doesn’t mean that there’s not a better way.
With that in mind, the News and Tribune is switching today to a Facebook-based system for commenting on our articles and columns. This means that those who wish to comment must have an active Facebook account.
The main benefit of this is less anonymity and more accountability from those leaving comments — something I hope we all can agree is a good thing.
I have no problem with readers making strong comments, but I have always felt it’s best that those comments come with a real person’s name attached to them — just as we require for letters to the editor and Cheers and Jeers submissions. Using Facebook increases the chance of that happening.
Just like always, readers can click on a story at newsandtribune.com and there will be an option to comment on articles and columns. These will not need an editor’s approval, but the comment will show up with the reader’s Facebook account name and profile photo.
As always, the News and Tribune reserves the right to delete any comment it deems necessary for removal.
We hope that readers agree that a move toward accountability is a good one.
— Editor Shea Van Hoy can be reached by email at shea.vanhoy@newsandtribune.com or by phone at 812-786-5593.
1 comment:
Move to accountability is good but forcing someone to have a Facebook account is not in journalism's best interest.
Silly me, I said journalism. What the hell was I thinking?
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