The New York Times Paywall Subscription

On March 17, The New York Times announced their new system involving digital subscriptions. In the letter to readers, it states the transition is "...an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in The Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform."  You can read the entire official announcement here.

The company announced that starting March 28, digital subscriptions would start being offered in the United States.  The plan consists of viewing 20 articles per month for free but if you view more than 20 articles you will be asked to become a subscriber.  Phone apps fall under this category asp well.  There is currently a special happening with all variations of the subscriptions, where each costs 99 cents per plan for the first four weeks.
The digital subscriptions consist of the following:

• NYTimes.com + Smartphone App = Access from any computer or device plus an app for Blackberry, iPhone or Android smartphones. 
•  Cost: $3.75 per week, billed every 4 weeks ($15.00)
• NYTimes.com + Tablet App = Access from any computer or device plus an app for iPod.  Plus Times Reader 2.0 and NYTimes App for Chrome Web Store.
• Cost: $5.00 per week, billed every 4 weeks ($20.00)
• All Digital Access = Access from any computer or device, plus Smartphone App and Tablet App.  This is also free for all print subscribers and home delivery subscribers.  
• Cost: $8.75 per week, billed every 4 weeks ($35.00)

This model took 14 months and 40 million dollars to develop.  All other questions are answer in their  FAQ section about the subscriptions.

Will this new payment system work?  Will other companies follow suit?  In my opinion, I do think there needs to be a business model developed for journalism online.  Television and radio forms of journalism have business methods and I do not think online journalism should be different.  Is this the right model?  Is this the right model?  Should other sites implement similar models?  This is to be determined.  In the upcoming months we will have to gauge the success of the new subscription, and see whether it is detrimental to The New York Times's business or beneficial.

Below is a video from Newsy Videos debating if this new plan will work or not.

Do you think The New York Times paywall will be effective?  Will they lose business?  Or will they be successful and set the business model?

Social Media Critical in Japan During Earthquake & Tsunami Aftermath

Citizens of Japan have been relying on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami which occurred on Friday.  According to CNET news, cell phone carriers such as NTT DoCoMo, Softbank, and Au were limiting calls because the networks were so congested.  Service was also very spotty throughout the country.  This caused trouble sending phone calls and text messages; it was difficult to get in touch with loved ones.

Brian Chapman, a journalist living in Tokyo, told CNET, "I saw a lot of people on the street talking on cell phones, but also long lines for every remaining pay phone...Facebook and Skype are proving to be the best ways to keep in touch."

Social media sites have been working to make their services as resourceful as possible.  Twitter posted a guide to help those in Japan to exchange information and communicate.  The U.N. has also released a list of users covering the aftermath to help followers follow the story.  Facebook has been updating information about Japan on their Global Disaster Relief page.

Below is a video from ABC World News Now, highlighting the uses of social media during and after the disaster.

Hyperlocal vs. Traditional Media

Photo credit: chrisdlugosz



Hyperlocal sites have recently sprung up all over the web.  The concept has become very popular because the sites exclusively focus on the place they are writing about, and even small towns like to know the news on Main Street.  Sites such as TBD, Patch, EveryBlock.com, Outside.in and NeighborsGo....  The success of thehave sprung up everywhere to report localized news. These sites however, is still to be determined.
According to Newspaper Death Watch, most hyperlocal sites face similar barriers. "Small audiences are difficult to monetize in the first place; finding and converting advertisers to reach small audiences is expensive; advertisers are reluctant to spend a lot of money on online ads in general, particularly when the audiences are small."  TBD cut one third of their staff (12 employees) at the end of February, six months after its launch.  This occured because there was low traffic to the site.  Some critics say the rest of hyperlocal sites will be next. 

Ad Age Mediaworks reported on a study in which types of media outlets many local consumers get their weekly news from.  Out of one-thousand localists surveyed; 91 percent watch local television news once a week, 80 percent check print newspapers, 79 percent listen to the radio, 61 percent check local websites and 59 percent check local television websites.  Hyperlocal websites that offer community news are a bit behind with 38 percent weekly use. Two percent of localists use these sites as their primary source of news.

However, most sites are staying positive. Patch has more than 800 sites, and AOL spent 50 million dollars on the project.  The CEO of Patch is also planning to add 200 more locations in the near future.  Another site, NeighborsGo, has been up and running for two and a half years.

Ultimatley, the survival of hyperlocal sites will depend on how well they can compete with national news sources.

The Today Show Promotes New Website

Photo credit: Edgar Zuniga Jr.

If you cannot get to a television for your daily fix of your favorite program, don't worry.  Television programs have started to extend themselves online, including NBC's Today Show.  According to The New York Times, on Tuesday, March 8, the show will be producing a one-time web cast in addition to their regular programming.  The web cast will be called "The Today.com Show."  It will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and will be hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.



The webcast is to promote the new website which was redesigned to emphasize video clips.  It will go behind the scenes and give viewers a chance to see what goes on in Studio 1A.  You can check out the redesigned site here.  It took two years of research and development to get the site to where it is now.  Viewers can now easily navigate and find everything from the morning's show.



The site is also utilizing social media with their Twitter, Facebook, and tumblr.com accounts in addition to helping Today Show anchor Meredith Viera tweet for the first time tomorrow during the cast.



New websites that emphasize video are sure to become more popular.  According to Alexa, a web information company, YouTube.com is the third most popular site globally.  Video online is easily accessible and mostly free; when consumers miss their shows or would like to watch clips, they turn to the web.  More and more companies are utilizing the power of the web, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Charlie Sheen #Winning on Twitter

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The Charlie Sheen media circus is still in progress.  He is everywhere in the media, especially social media.  As he would say, Sheen is #winning when it comes to Twitter.  He reached one million followers in just over 24 hours.  According to USA Today, "The actual figure, confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records today: It took Sheen 25 hours and 17 minutes, between March 1 and 2, to reach 1 million followers."

Photo by xotoko

Sheen thanked his followers from his Twitter, "In all sincerity... Thank you Twitter followers that helped get me to 1 M in 24 hours!!! #teamsheen."  As I am writing this post, Sheen has 1,569,150 followers 

and the followers will keep coming.

It was also reported that Sheen signed a deal with a company Ad.ly.  The company hires celebrities who use social  media to sell and endorse products.  Supposedly, the company even helped Sheen set up his   Twitter and also explained how it worked.

No matter what one thinks of Charlie Sheen...most can agree he is a doing a great job at utilizing media to advertise himself.  Personally, I have even heard "marketing genius" being thrown around.  We will have to wait and see if Christina Aguilera and other celebrities who need a career boost will follow the Sheen model use of media.

Charlie Sheen's Public Meltdown

So far, this is Charlie Sheen's year.  As E! would describe it, "Meltdown 2011."  He is everywhere in the media.  He dissed Alcoholic Anonymous, insulted the "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre, he insulted CBS and asked for a raise, spoke on talk shows on major stations such as Piers Morgan, Today Show, 20/20, Dateline, etc.  Watch some of his interview on Good Morning America below.

The latest thing is that Sheen joined Twitter yesterday evening.  He tweeted "Questions..? I'm here for my people..Bring it!! #Tigerblood."  This goes along with a statement he made in his 20/20 interview, "You borrow my brain for five seconds and just be like dude, can't handle it, unplug this bastard. It fires in a way that is, I don't know, maybe not from this terrestrial realm. When you've got tiger blood and Adonis DNA, it's like, get with the program dude."  #Tigerblood is now trending on Twitter and media outlets are watching anxiously at what he will tweet next or who he will follow next. 

His every move is being watched.  For example, E! online has a link to everything Charlie Sheen here. This has become the norm in society today.  When Britney Spears had her meltdown and shaved her head, the press was there to cover every minute.  When Lindsay Lohan was in her downward spiral, there was a huge media circus surrounding everything she did, and especially when she was in court - you could watch her walking into court live on almost every news station. 

America today has a "celeb culture" and all areas of journalism have adjusted to keep up with this.  Before this celeb-culture-journalism, celebrities were not as overexposed as they are today.  The overall demand has changed this, as well as social media and online sites.  There are magazines, television stations, websites, etc. completely devoted to celebrities.  This Charlie Sheen media circus shows how someone, especially a celebrity, cannot make one move without it being recorded and instantly available to everyone who wants it.