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FishbowlNY Poll

Poll: Will Paywalls Save Newspapers?

paperspic.jpgFrom Newsday to The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal, newspapers across the country are trying out new types of pay walls and paid content models. But the big question remains, can they save papers?

Our colleagues at BayNewser have launched a new poll today asking that all important question, and we're trying to crowd-source the answer from across the mediabistro.com community.

Update: Cast your vote on this issue below, and pass it along to your friends and colleagues, too.

Do You Think Paywalls Will Save Newspapers?(trends)

Related: FBNY Poll: What Content Would You Be Willing To Pay For Online?

(Photo via Flickr)

FBNY Poll: What Content Would You Be Willing To Pay For Online?

This week, two newspapers announced two very different paywall plans. The Wall Street Journal unveiled a new plan to provide specially aggregated content to "professionals" for up to $49 a month, drawing from WSJ.com, Dow Jones newswires and Factiva.

Local Long Island newspaper Newsday also revealed expected plans to roll out a paywall for its Web site next week. The Cablevision-owned paper's online content will remain free to print subscribers and those who pay for Optimum Online service, but everyone else will have to pay $5 a week for access.

Whether or not either of these models will work, media companies will continue to test the waters with plans to make you pay for the content you want most. So we wonder, what would you be willing to pay for? WSJ seems to think there's money in specially aggregated content while Newsday is banking on a need for local news, even for just a week at a time.

What do you think? Weigh in below. (You can pick more than one choice)

Would You Pay For Exclusive Local Content Like PG+?

pg+.jpgLast night, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette launched a new paid content Web site, PG+.

The members only site promises to provide users with special interactive features and exclusive content provided by the Post-Gazette staff beyond what is available in the paper's daily print and online versions. The site will be hosted by Post-Gazette bloggers and will place an emphasis on commenting and social networking.

The cost? $36 for an annual membership or $3.99 monthly. Members who sign up now will also receive a free copy of a book written by Post-Gazette staffers about the Superbowl winning Steelers, "Super Six."

Is this a whole new content model? The Post-Gazette says it is:

"PG+ is not only new for the Post-Gazette; it's also a new, if not unique, approach to the online pay model for the news industry. Most news organizations that are contemplating charging for content are thinking of using 'micro-charges,' billing a small amount for clicks on individual stories. PG+, on the other hand, does not put any existing content behind a pay wall. Rather, it offers members access to a full array of all-new material while continuing the regular."

As more and more publications try out new paid online content models, we're curious: would you pay for something like PG+? Take our poll and let us know.

Post-Gazette launches PG+, a members-only Web site -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Earlier: Would You Pay To Read NYPost.com?

Would You Pay To Read NYTimes.com?

Bloomberg reported today that The New York Times is considering charging readers to access its Web site, NYTimes.com.

In a survey sent to print subscribers, the paper said it is considering charging as much at $5 a month to access its content, including articles, blogs and multimedia, Bloomberg said. A Times spokeswoman confirmed the survey to the newswire.

The question is, would you pay to access Times content online? And if so, how much is your love worth?

Where Will You Be Watching (If At All)?

We'll admit it. We are clearing the afternoon so we can park in front of the TV and watch the spectacle that will be the Michael Jackson memorial extravaganza. But, with so many choices, we haven't decided how we're going to watch yet. Help us out and tell us what your plans are.

FishbowlNY Poll Results: Kindle's Too Pricey For You

amanda_kindle_chart.gif
Yesterday, we asked you to tell us if you would buy a new Kindle DX. There's been a lot of buzz about this product in the past few days (most recently the fact that it can't correctly pronounce Barack Obama's name) but everyone is mostly complaining about its price and its release being so soon after the latest Kindle version, the Kindle 2. Here's the results of our poll:

61% of you said that you would not buy a Kindle DX, although only 16% of you said you wouldn't be buying the new version because you already have a Kindle of some kind.
29% of you said you would buy a Kindle DX.
And of the 10% that answered "other," many of you were simply undecided and pointed to price as a major drawback. At least two people said they would consider buying a Kindle DX if the price drops.

As one respondent said, "If it was less expensive, I would buy a Kindle for books...not necessarily news."

FishbowlNY Poll: Will You Buy A Kindle DX?

kindle.jpg Amazon.com revealed a new, bigger Kindle yesterday. But we were wondering, will it sell?

The reviews are mixed -- some have called it overpriced -- but Amazon is pitching it as the future of the newspaper industry and perhaps its saving grace.

Whether or not that that is true we want you to tell us, will you shell out $489 for a Kindle DX?

2008: The Stranger Than Fiction News Year

Wow. This was quite a year, no? Twelve months ago the media world was trying to figure out the best place to celebrate New Years in Iowa. Twelve months ago! One wonders whether this year would be best measured in dog years of some sort. But wait there's still 12 more hours to go! And if we've learned anything this year it's that a lot of headlines can happen in 12 hours. Anyway, there are plenty end-of-year lists floating around at the moment — be they best media moments, worst, blunders, predictions, etc. But after watching Blago make a reappearance yesterday amidst an otherwise distressing news day (and really in terms of entertaining headlines this guy is the best thing to come along since Sarah Palin except arguably better since there is absolutely no chance of his ever reaching the White House) it occurred to us there were a lot news stories this year that made us an expert on something we never thought we'd need to know about. A lot!

Like, for example, the difference between a caucus and primary, and which one happens in what state when, or, say, Superdelegates! Or Alaskan politics (not to mention wolf-hunting), or the difference between a investment bank and a bank holding company. Or the fact that no one was actually in charge on Wall St. Also, Presidential puppies! And then there's all those names! Ashley Dupree (and her singing career!), the Palin family von Track (and Tripp!), and more recently Made-off, and Bluh-GOY-uh-vich. Phew, you couldn't make this stuff up. Favorites? Weigh in on your choice below.

Are Print Newspapers Necessary Seven Days-a-Week?

In his chat with Portfolio yesterday Sam Zell said this:

Our customers have an enormous interest in our newspaper on Sunday; have almost no interest on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Thursday and Friday, they're more interested; and Saturday might as well be in the desert.
Which made us consider whether a newspaper did, in fact, need to be published every day. What do you think. Are newspapers necessary seven days-a-week?

Daily Show Showdown: William Kristol Vs. Barack Obama

Previously

What Do You Make of the Conde Nast Cuts?

Where Will You Watch Obama Tonight?

Which Newspaper Will Stop Publishing Daily Next?

What Does the Future of The New York Times Co. Hold?

Are There Layoffs at Your Company?

What's Ann Moore's Future at Time Inc.?

What Do You Think of Barack Obama's Election Night Plan?

What's More Important: The Election or the Financial Crisis?

What's Joe the Plumber's Next Move?

How Will Bob Schieffer Fare?

Portfolio's Fate?

Was This the Worst Week Ever?

Excited for Rachael Ray's Burger Joint?

Who Won the Debate?

The New York Times Downsizes

Who Wants to Work at Gawker?

$6 Million for Tina Fey?

Is it the Weekend Yet?

The Future of the New York Sun

To the (Debate) Victor Go the Spoils

Was Letterman's Take Down of McCain Okay?

What Emmy-Winning Show Are You Watching?

What's the Future of NYT Co. Stock?

At Least the Secret Service Knows How to Use a Phone

Help! I'm Speaking at a Writers Conference and I Need Your Thoughts

Who Is Rolling Stone's Comedian Critic?

Is Ben Silverman Safe at NBC?

Did MSNBC Make the Right Decision?

FishbowlNY Poll: Is Palin's Coverage Fair?

The New Yorker's 'Politics of Fear' Cover: Political Satire or Downright Offensive?

Jesse Jackson Goes Nuts: Funny or Really Bad?

FBNY Question of the Day

Does Vogue Harm The Body Image Of Young Women?

Is The LeBron-Giselle Vogue Cover Racist?

Who Will Get Newsday?

Will Howard Stern Renew His Contract At Sirius?

Will The Fox Business Network Ads Be Good For The Cable Channel?

Are The National Magazine Awards A Popularity Contest?

Will You Miss PageSix.com?

Has The NY Press Gone Overboard In Covering Governor Paterson's Marriage?

Is Media Criticism Of Jim Cramer's Bear Stearns Comments Fair?

What Is The Sharpest, Most Relevant Late Night Comedy Show?

Will Ashley Alexandre Dupre Become The Next Great Multimedia Star?

Should The New York Times, As Howell Raines Mentioned Yesterday, Go After ''The Elite, Intellectual'' Niche Audience?

Will You Be Using The Newly-Launched Hulu?

Has The New York Press Been Fair While Chasing The Spitzer Story?

Should Presidential Candidates Go On Late Night Comedy Shows?

Are We Witnessing The End Of Terrestrial Radio?

Did Tina Fey's Weekend Update Appearance Help Senator Clinton?

Will Barry Diller Be Ousted At IAC/Interactive?

Are Celebrity Baby Magazine Cover Fees Ridiculous?

Is The New York Times Brand Irreparably Damaged?

Was The Drudge Report Right To Break The Prince Harry Story?

Should Howard Stern Extend His Sirius Deal For Less Money?

Was Media Mogul-Mayor Michael Bloomberg Leading Us On?

Does The Death Of William F. Buckley, Jr. Signal The End Of An Era?

Will The Flawed McCain Story Help The Consortium Of Investors Gain Board Seats At The NYT?

How Was Jon Stewart's Oscar Hosting Performance?

What Do You Think Of New York Magazine's Lohan Photo Spread?

Your Favorite Fake Journos

Was The New York Times Over The Line With The McCain Story?

Should Chez Pazienza Have Been Fired From CNN For Blogging?

Are The Press Too Soft On Senator Barack Obama?

Will You Be Watching The Oscars?

Are Yahoo! And News Corp. A Good Match?

Do The Audit Bureau of Circulations Figures Signal The End Of Print Media?

Who Was The Biggest Winner In The Writer's Strike?

Does Microsoft's Bid Undervalue Yahoo!

The Absence Of Writers Has Most Affected ...

How Is Jeff Bewkes Doing?

Was Graydon Carter Right To Cancel His Oscar Party?

Who Are You Voting For Today?

Will The Writers Strike End This Week?

Is Microsoft's Acquisition of Yahoo! A Good Idea?

Should Disgruntled New York Times Shareholders Listen To Harbinger Capital?

Will Conservative Talk Radio Affect McCain's Performance Next Tuesday?

Are Newspaper Endorsements Irrevelvant?

Is The Media Excessively Focusing On Race And Gender In The Democratic Primary?

Will The New York Times' Endorsement Help or Hurt John McCain?

Will Interview Magazine Survive Without Ingrid Sischy?

Will This Present Round Of Talks Settle The WGA Strike?

Was Dave Seanor of Golf Week Rightly Fired?

In Retrospect, Should Hillary Have Posed For Vogue?

Was The New York Times Fair In Sunday's Story Of Violent Veteran Returnees?

Who Else Deserves Their Own Network?

Are You Looking Forward To Tina Brown's Clinton Bio?

Was Bill Kristol Worthy Of A New York Times Op-Ed Column?

Why Did The Press And Pollsters Get NH So Wrong?

Will Howard Stern's Letterman Appearance Beat Leno In The Ratings?

Are Journo's Fair To The Clintons?

Are We Witnessing The Last, Dying Gasp Of Newspapers?

Will The NY Times-CNBC Content Deal Accelerate The War Against Murdoch?

Who Was The Biggest Media Winner In Iowa?

Will Writers Help Letterman Finally Beat Leno?

Will Dick Parsons Run For Mayor of NYC?

Was Dick Parsons A Good CEO At Time Warner?

Will Bloomberg Run For President?

Will Jeff Bewkes Sell AOL?

Will Newspapers Be In A Better Or Worse Position This Time Next Year?

Which Media Figure Will Have The Happiest Holiday?

Read more on FishbowlNY >

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