Here we have one of the richest media organizations in the world acting like Congress just cut their budget. Honestly guys, WHY DON'T YOU JUST HAVE A FUCKING TELETHON?
As the so-called "Newspaper of Record" for most of the civilized world, The New York Times is now seriously abusing its standing.
I just read the "good news" from Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger about their generous "investment in our future." It reminds me of when the professor on Futurama bursts in and announces, "GOOD NEWS EVERYONE . . ." as a preface for sending his crew on a life-risking mission. This "good news" is that I am now required to invest in The Times future if I want to keep accessing the information I've grown accustomed to.
Here we have one of the richest media organizations in the world acting like Congress just cut their budget. Honestly guys, WHY DON'T YOU JUST HAVE A FUCKING TELETHON? Give us your best pitch about how nothing is free in this world anymore, and how "little Joe never once gave it away . . ." Sulzberger’s exact words are:
"It will allow us to develop new sources of revenue to strengthen our ability to continue our journalistic mission as well as undertake digital innovations that will enable us to provide you with high-quality journalism on whatever device you choose." I take this to mean that if they didn't start charging low-income writer/editor/scholars such as me, they'd have to close a bureau or 2 like in Broadcast News.
In the re-make, Sulzberger would play Jack Nicholson's character, who would rather keep his extra millions that pay the salary of a woman he would otherwise hit on.
But don't think they're not being generous. If you already have a home delivery subscription, you can continue to access the full content online. If I could afford a home delivery subscription, I could afford a lot of other things too, such as an online subscription.
They tried this a couple of years ago, but rescinded that bad decision. Things must be different now. The tuition for Sulzberger's pre-schoolers much have gone up, along with his dues to the tennis club and gold club. But I'm projecting and supposing here and that's not good journalism. OK, let's be fair - we've all got problems.
They'll let me look at the home page anytime for free, plus up to 20 pages per month. Oh damn! I just hit my monthly allotment re-reading Sulzberger's fundraising pitch. Hey man, I can relate. I've worked pledge drives for several public radio stations. I often said, "Hey if you can afford the 35 cents . . . 50 cents . . . 75 cents . . . dollar, 1.50, . . . I mean 2 dollars for The New York Times, you can certainly give that amount to us so we can keep brining you the great jazz and blues you love so much." Yep, I used to reference The New York Times in my pledge drive pitches. Now they're in need, so maybe they'll want to fly me in for the next pledge break.
Seriously now, seriously now - I'm sure the folks down at the LA Times, DC Post, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other flagship papers love the new traffic they're getting. It was a tough decision to make, but I came upon it rather quickly.
H. Scott Prosterman