Mon
Feb 7 2011
11:09 am
I Guess We Knew It Was Coming... RCN Online
By: RoaneBooster

I figured it and I'm sure many others did... When the RCN's online presence became so accessible and readable, when one could read the entire paper online... It felt like a hook was about to be sunk in our cheeks, and it was. We got used to seeing it all. Now we'll have to pay for it. But I have a question...

I thoroughly understand the need for RCN (link...) to be able to actually SELL product in order to stay in business. I get that. No problems at all. And I understand and appreciate the flexibility of being able to subscribe to BOTH he print and electronic version, OR to ONLY the electronic version. Still I have no problems.

There are a number of publications I subscribe to where I have the choice, and the pattern is pretty well established: You pay more for print version or print AND e-version, but you pay less for e-version alone.

But what I do have a problem with is the cost being the same to receive either both forms of the publication or only the electronic form of the publication. I see making the option available as something that could be described progressive (am I wrong, WC?). It is a green, sustainable thing to do. Saves trees. Also saves the newspaper the cost of printing more copies even while broadening their subscriber base. That's why I'm of the opinion the e-version should cost us less.

Since layout is done electronically on computers anyway, it's very little more than an additional cut-and-paste operation to put the article into the web version and click the "publish" button to make the online version available. SO I don't understand why a decreased cost to produce should not result in a decreased cost to buy.

But then that's just me. This may be one more instance of "RB, you just don't get it..."

RB

Topics:

I had this exact

Submitted by WhitesCreek on February 7, 2011 - 12:27pm.

I had this exact conversation with the RCN Editor and as near as I can tell this was a corporate decision and that's that.

I don't understand at all why the online edition costs the same as the print edition. If I had a bean counter who told me that was the case, I would definitely look for another bean counter. A little thought experiment proves that the online edition should be cheaper. Let's say that all of the current subscribers opted for the online edition only. All printing could then cease and all of the expenses associated with ink and paper and logistics could go away. The cost of an additional subscriber would be vanishingly small for online editions. RoaneViews.com is a case in point.

Newspapers are struggling because they are stuck in the two worlds mindset. I see no place in the not to distant future for print media.

I'm like you, WC...

Submitted by RoaneBooster on February 7, 2011 - 1:00pm.

... I don't unnerstand it. Of course, if Terri has it handed down to her from above, that's what she gotta do.

I agree - if everybody became a e-version subscriber, their (RCN's) costs would fall logarithmically.

I appreciate your having that conversation with Terri. And I certainly agree with what I would do with a bean counter that told me that... they'd be counting somebody eles'e beans!

RB

"log" arithmically?

Submitted by WhitesCreek on February 7, 2011 - 1:12pm.

Was that pun intentional, RB? If so, I bow twice in your general direction.

I do have to question the loss of revenue from the dead tree ad inserts in every paper edition. I immediately throw them in the recycle bin but RCN does receive revenue for them that has to be counted.

Alas, in all honesty...

Submitted by RoaneBooster on February 7, 2011 - 1:31pm.

... I cannot claim to have made the pun intentionally. Which is both unusual and sad for me, since I do love both puns and limericks - said by dullards to be low forms of humor. I think the only reason they claim such is that they themselves have not the developed frontal lobes to enjoy or originate such humor!

RB

Well

Submitted by WhitesCreek on February 7, 2011 - 2:52pm.

Since it was an accidental pun, I take back one bow in your direction. You keep the other because it was, after all, entertaining and you were honest.

Who even looks at the dead tree inserts?

Submitted by onetahiti on February 7, 2011 - 1:34pm.

Here they always go unread straight into the trash.

If they wanted people to read them they would put the inserts online too.

-- OneTahiti

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