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Sticky notes
Notes from the yellow pad on my desk:
* Those who don't like the advertising on our website need to remember how much it's costing them to view the news, videos and other information we produce. The answer is, zero. We don't believe paywalls are the way to go; they typically discourage reader traffic. We prefer having readers come to our site early and often at no cost. The more visitors, the more attractive the site becomes to paid advertisers. And with well over 200,000 unique visitors a month, we have an excellent story to tell our advertising clients.
* The Charlie Sheen saga is legitimate entertainment and financial story. But we're uncomfortable with all the rambling interviews and Internet clips the networks have been airing. Sheen is either the greatest actor since Olivier, or he's an extremely sick man who ought to be institutionalized. Most experts say it's the latter. Why feed into his irrational behavior by providing him a national soapbox? It's not too late for Sheen to take a route to recovery, a la Robert Downey Jr. But it will be if he doesn't get help soon.
* Hope you've been following the Freeman's series of live videostreams from local press conferences, hearings and the like. You also ought to sign up as Twitter followers of our reporters; they are breaking stories nearly every day via their tweets. Had you been a follower of Patricia Doxsey, for example, you would have received periodic on-the-spot updates last night from the public hearing on Golden Hill. Excellent stuff in the Digital First age.
* Speaking of Digital First, keep an eye out for the announcement of major national recognition for our new media guru Life Editor Ivan Lajara.
* By the way, renovations to the Freeman's Community Media Lab are just about complete. Hope to have some more events before long.
* Personal aside to blog reader Ellen Slansky (who reminded me I haven't been posting lately): The change occurred on I-95, shortly after leaving Greenwich, Conn. She'll know what I mean.
* I'm back on the Media Project this week on WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Typically I'm on every other week, but schedule conflicts and a week in California have kept me away for much of 2011. Hopefully we can stick to the regular routine for a while. Recording with me Thursday morning will be Alan Chartock and Rosemary Armao. Listen in at 6 p.m. Sunday or 3 p.m. Monday.
* There was a time when I wouldn't miss a word of newspaper coverage from baseball spring training. Now, I hardly read any of it. Does that say more about me or spring training?
* Actress Lorraine Bracco was sitting across the aisle on our flight from JFK to LAX. Most remember her as Tony Soprano's therapist. I said hello to her, but didn't feel the urge to burden her with my problems. Probably a good move.
* Those who don't like the advertising on our website need to remember how much it's costing them to view the news, videos and other information we produce. The answer is, zero. We don't believe paywalls are the way to go; they typically discourage reader traffic. We prefer having readers come to our site early and often at no cost. The more visitors, the more attractive the site becomes to paid advertisers. And with well over 200,000 unique visitors a month, we have an excellent story to tell our advertising clients.
* The Charlie Sheen saga is legitimate entertainment and financial story. But we're uncomfortable with all the rambling interviews and Internet clips the networks have been airing. Sheen is either the greatest actor since Olivier, or he's an extremely sick man who ought to be institutionalized. Most experts say it's the latter. Why feed into his irrational behavior by providing him a national soapbox? It's not too late for Sheen to take a route to recovery, a la Robert Downey Jr. But it will be if he doesn't get help soon.
* Hope you've been following the Freeman's series of live videostreams from local press conferences, hearings and the like. You also ought to sign up as Twitter followers of our reporters; they are breaking stories nearly every day via their tweets. Had you been a follower of Patricia Doxsey, for example, you would have received periodic on-the-spot updates last night from the public hearing on Golden Hill. Excellent stuff in the Digital First age.
* Speaking of Digital First, keep an eye out for the announcement of major national recognition for our new media guru Life Editor Ivan Lajara.
* By the way, renovations to the Freeman's Community Media Lab are just about complete. Hope to have some more events before long.
* Personal aside to blog reader Ellen Slansky (who reminded me I haven't been posting lately): The change occurred on I-95, shortly after leaving Greenwich, Conn. She'll know what I mean.
* I'm back on the Media Project this week on WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Typically I'm on every other week, but schedule conflicts and a week in California have kept me away for much of 2011. Hopefully we can stick to the regular routine for a while. Recording with me Thursday morning will be Alan Chartock and Rosemary Armao. Listen in at 6 p.m. Sunday or 3 p.m. Monday.
* There was a time when I wouldn't miss a word of newspaper coverage from baseball spring training. Now, I hardly read any of it. Does that say more about me or spring training?
* Actress Lorraine Bracco was sitting across the aisle on our flight from JFK to LAX. Most remember her as Tony Soprano's therapist. I said hello to her, but didn't feel the urge to burden her with my problems. Probably a good move.
posted by Ira Fusfeld at
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
8 Comments:
you just miss the days when the yanks dropped bombshells every day in spring training.
i used to resent advertising in the news. now i cry that it is not there more.
Ads are one thing.
Popups and popunders are reserved, however, for the lowest of the low, and it's a shame the Freeman has decided to paint itself with that brush.
Sorry, Derek, I disagree. Here's what would be worse than popup ads that pay for what you read for free: No revenue, no website, no local coverage.
You're free to disagree, I guess, but if you do a little market research, you'll find that the one thing, the single thing, that web users find most annoying, in the history of the web, is pop-ups/unders.
So, if the Freeman wants to perform the absolute worst behavior a content-site can do? Well, you're in charge, it's certainly you option, but don't be surprised when you alienate visitors and you look *less* attractive to the advertisers because of the short-sightedness.
I'll also point out that such abhorrent behavior is the sort of thing that causes people to install ad-blockers, meaning they won't see ANY of your ads, giving you even less revenue opportunity.
But hey, look, why should I debate with a newspaper about online strategy? If you want to repeat the mistakes of all the unsuccessful communities of the *last* decade, I suppose that would just reinforce the stereotype of the newspaper industry always being late to the party for every part of the internet, both good and bad....
Then disagree we will. Fortunately, the Freeman's parent company has some of the best minds in the digital world working with us. You'll excuse me if I side with them on this matter.
Heh. You'll excuse me if history leads me to believe that the "brightest minds in the digital world" aren't even on speaking terms with a newspaper company, let alone working with them, but good luck nonetheless.
Since it's my blog, I'll take the last word: You really ought to bone up on the resumes and accomplishments of those in charge of Journal Register Company. After you do that, check out the trade publications and you'll learn that JRC is paving the way for companies large and small. We're looking ahead, not back.
I really do not mind the ads popping up. Especially if I can still read The Kingston Daily Freeman for free. From a different view, I nolonger live in Ulster County or NYS. And the Freeman is one way that I still use to see the great and not so great things going on in the County I lived in for most of my adult life. Your website has made many good improvements over the last year. And look forward to more.
By the way,you have a diamond in Ivan Lajara. I enjoy reading his blog. Glad to see he has some help with his intern working with him.
Lou
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