PressEthic

You never know what you have until it’s gone. The best things in life are free. I’m referring to Times Select, and the loss of my favorite editorial writers to my steadily shrinking wallet.

I found a bit of solace that I was not alone in the following blog from HerbEly.com:

I just went to the New York Times website to get a column by John Tierney. The NYT is now requiring a subscription to New York Times Select at $49.95/year. Sorry folks. I can read David Brook in my local paper. I understand that, like all businesses, you need to make a profit and pay your writers. Cut your price by half, and I'll think about it. It will take more than John Tierney and David Brooks to make me subscribe. At $12, I would consider it a bargain. Does it really cost anywhere near $50 a year for you to provide web access for me?

I understand business. I understand that the web is losing a hefty sum of advertising dollars from online readers. But I do think the price is high – especially for journalism students such as myself. A student discount would be helpful here, guys.

I am a fan of checking out what other readers are emailing to each other. This post by librarycrunch.com hit the nail on the head:

Looking at the Most Emailed Articles you will now see very few, if any, Op-Ed writers listed, whereas the Op-Eds used to lead this list, with Dowd, Rich and Friedman being the top most emailed writers.

I wonder if these columnists care that they aren’t reaching the audience they were a few weeks ago. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. I know of a few students that went ahead and ordered Times Select just so that they can continue to read their favorite columnists. I have found some blogs that, in retaliation to Times Select, have posted columns on their sites for others to read.

If anyone out there who has access to Times Select and wants to make a quick $10 email me.