tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post9008412365540583747..comments2024-02-13T10:20:04.888+00:00Comments on David Hepworth's blog: The grubby business of exchanging actual words for actual moneyDavid Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-11847554130542613272013-01-10T14:40:54.927+00:002013-01-10T14:40:54.927+00:00As one of those people that have to make such deci...As one of those people that have to make such decisions I'd make a couple of points.<br />The first is that certainly in the sector of publishing I work in (business magazines) in heady days where ad bookings were rolling in merrily we were virtually giving our subs away to pump up volume.<br />Secondly, publishers are now being weighed down by increasing paper and print costs, hence pulling the price rise lever.<br />The problem for the Guardian is that it has nothing tangible to base the rise on. Most other brands are releasing mobile sites or apps to help justify their hikes. The Guardian only has to look over the Pond at the New York Times to see that erecting a porous paywall is a total no-brainer.PhilClarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08410689123753693397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-66469467908567276062013-01-09T13:13:59.871+00:002013-01-09T13:13:59.871+00:00I have never understood a business model like The ...I have never understood a business model like The Guardian's, which gives away free of charge, their entire output, whilst charging for the printed version. the online version is actually far better now than the paper, which is looking thin and desperate. I like their journalism, and their website, but they are shooting themselves in both feet unless they can make their website pay. I tend to think that a micro charge, one which would be so small as to not be an issue with most, might work. And it would discourage the online ranters in the comments.Ian Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04284916292058737320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-46626328375527066292013-01-06T23:55:42.386+00:002013-01-06T23:55:42.386+00:00"how the majority of their 500,000 comments a..."how the majority of their 500,000 comments a year came from the same 50 people...<br /><br />hmmm...the interent has changed that 80%/20% rule I read about a while back. <br />No doubt Guardian and other papers magazines would reveal a similar pattern.<br /><br />Back to the drawing board on saving the Guardian in print I think...Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12124916104754527003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-61792146263173406542013-01-05T13:36:32.824+00:002013-01-05T13:36:32.824+00:00What is the re-subscription model for Andrew Sulli...What is the re-subscription model for Andrew Sullivan's blog? I have one monthly magazine subscription and the publishers are determined to hang on to it. I expect to receive a branded umbrella in the post shortly alongside the confirmation for my two year sign up. On the past I have received DVDs of back copies. But what can Andrew Sullivan offer in twelve months time?Charliemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964488383299624526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-55152925246882538822013-01-05T09:34:54.043+00:002013-01-05T09:34:54.043+00:00Interesting, Michael. I heard the chap from the Gu...Interesting, Michael. I heard the chap from the Guido Fawkes blog on the radio the other day talking about how the majority of their 500,000 comments a year came from the same 50 people.David Hepworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-74516373549000112342013-01-04T23:43:26.937+00:002013-01-04T23:43:26.937+00:00Interesting post Mr. Hepworth, esp. last two parag...Interesting post Mr. Hepworth, esp. last two paragraphs.<br /><br />My great idea to keep the Guardian in print (I buy it 2/3 times a week) is that they should charge say £100 a year for "write to" access to the comments areas. A significant number of people clearly find this an enjoyable and fulfilling, even addictive activity - it's interesting to see how even an article on, say, the best way to cook fried eggs, will have hundreds of comments.<br /><br />I also have a theory that for common posters (?) there is an inverse relationship bwtween number of comments they post and number of print copies they buy - so a decent charge would be some redress.<br /><br />And finally, the paper would certainly not be worse with fewer reader comments.<br /><br />What do you think?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12124916104754527003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-1481956148111704482013-01-04T15:07:47.370+00:002013-01-04T15:07:47.370+00:00Just to put the above into perspective, Andrew Sul...Just to put the above into perspective, Andrew Sullivan says:<br /><br />"Basically, we've gotten a third of a million dollars in 24 hours, with close to 12,000 paid subscribers (at last count). On average, readers paid almost $8 more than we asked for."<br /><br />So that 1% is rather significant...PKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927082748872458788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-6439816897757634922013-01-04T11:49:32.374+00:002013-01-04T11:49:32.374+00:00David - here are his stats after one day. One per ...David - here are his stats after one day. One per cent of his readership has subscribed, he says. Some interesting stats also: <a rel="nofollow">http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2013/01/the-dish-model-the-data.html</a>Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01344091077956718246noreply@blogger.com