The online experiment

A few thoughts on the shift by The New York Times to an advertising-supported online model. I think we can safely say that TimeSelect was a disaster. Unlike the Wall Street Journal, which charged a subscription fee for its most valuable content (accurate and timely business news) while, by giving it away, got the widest audience possible for its opinion pages (blatherings of rightwing blowhards), the NYTimes gave away its news content (the paper of record) and charged for its columnists (blatherings of leftwing -- and a few rightwing -- blowhards) and archives. With the shift, access to the NYTimes archives is a real benefit, as both a writer and an engaged citizen, while access to the NYTimes opinion pages has made little difference in my life -- I find I just don't need to know what Maureen Dowd, David Brooks or William Kristol (!) have to say.