Execs at the Christian Science Monitor are heading in a direction that so many other newspapers just can't seem to comprehend yet.Starting Saturday, this 100-year-old publication will be online only ---- with the exception of a printed "weekly edition for subscribers and a printable three-page daily news digest by e-mail."
The CSM is hoping to eventually drive all of its readership to CSMonitor.com, the publication's Web site.
A lot of news outlets have been dabbling with the idea of online only products, with some newspapers cutting down their publications to several days a week. It seems, however, that most newspapers just can't make that leap.
I know the argument: "The Web is making any money." Hey, the CSM seems to admit that times are going to be rough at first, but at least they're taking the leap.
If more newspapers - or news outlets in general - followed suit, major advertisers may not have a choice but to pay for ads online. That may, in turn, make web advertising costs more competitive. But we won't know unless we try.
Hence, the CSM gets my brave Little Engine award of the week.
more news outlets should have this attitude--just get real and change. whether that means go online or just change your print content. big changes, thats what it takes.
ReplyDeletePolitico recently expanded its print edition to five days a week. Why? Because print is where the publication makes most of its money.
ReplyDeleteIf the LAT went online only, revenue would plummet overnight, just as it would at most papers. I think the best hope might be a Kindle-like device that has the feel of a newspaper and gives advertisers more options than a banner or rail ad -- or one of those annoying ads that slowly crawls across the screen. But that Kindle-like developer better get moving!
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