Bruce Miles's Blog

[Brett]

As a Mom 'n Pop content-producer (full-time, solo), this is perhaps the most interest thread I've read in months. For what it's worth, I can verify:

 

(1) It is possible to generate enough revenue from advertising to support a one-person, full-time, content-producing staff ... so long as that one person is also your full-time web designer, developer, sales staff, server admin, etc.

 

(2) It is incredibly difficult to do No. 1, and the amount of time and effort (to say nothing of luck and ability) it takes is surprising. I was a corporate lawyer for four years before doing Bleacher Nation full-time, and I work more now than I ever did as a lawyer.

 

(3) Some readers - even loyal ones - will complain no matter how you try to monetize your efforts. Subscription? Why would they pay? Ads? Why would they tolerate such intrusions? It seems unfair to me, but it's the way it is.

 

I hope Bruce comes out clean on the other end of this, even if the DH doesn't. Seems like he'd be better off starting his own subscription site, if "subscription" has to enter the conversation at all.

[BeerHere]

What bothers me is the amount they are charging. $20 per month is close to double the price for a 26 week subscription (which includes the delivery and printing costs). Providing the same content online should be cheaper to produce, not more expensive and charging people more for online content when they already receive the paper doesn't sounds equitable either. I'm sure they ran the numbers and came up with a price they feel is necessary given their financial position. I'm sure they know they will lose some traffic if not a LOT of traffic. The only way that is really justifiable is if the online-only content adds to what the paper offers. If that is the case, how do they decide which content to give to the subscribers and which to deliver online without the subscribers feeling short changed?

 

The medium is really the issue. Newspaper readership has been falling for years and it feels like the DH is reacting late to the issue. As a result (perhaps a result of their financial situation) they have created a very expensive program that will likely fail.

 

Bruce Miles is excellent. I hope he finds another employer.

[Magnetic Curses]

What bothers me is the amount they are charging.

 

you don't say?

 

20 dollars a month is like half of what most people pay for actual internet access. it has to be a joke.

[tfarks]

That's actually more than what I paid monthly for internet access.

[Brett]

That's actually more than what I paid monthly for internet access.

 

You pay less than $20 per month for internet? Care to share your secret? - I'm at like $50.

[SouthSideRyan]

That's actually more than what I paid monthly for internet access.

 

You pay less than $20 per month for internet? Care to share your secret? - I'm at like $50.

 

Juno.

[tfarks]

That's actually more than what I paid monthly for internet access.

 

You pay less than $20 per month for internet? Care to share your secret? - I'm at like $50.

 

$15 a month for AT&T DSL. As long as you had it for a year.

 

Even with the upgrade to elite speed I don't think it got higher than $25.

[BeerHere]

you don't say?

Why yes, I do say.

 

20 dollars a month is like half of what most people pay for actual internet access. it has to be a joke.

It's the cost that makes me think they figured out what they need to charge to remain solvent and went from there. I suspect the Daily Herald is about to start laying off staff akin to what the Sun Times did a couple years ago. They took their sports money maker (Bruce Miles) and made people pay for his content in an attempt to keep themselves afloat and employed. Not a smart strategy but may be the best of their worst options.