A few weeks ago, I posted about a conference regarding finding opportunity in turbulent times. That post is here. Bennie DiNardo, deputy managing editor for The Boston Globe, spoke about how the Globe struggled at first to understand how moving to the web could be a sustainable strategy for the newspaper. When they started, they had no idea how they would "monetize" the strategy... but that didn't stop them from jumping in head first.
Much has been written and said about the demise of print media as the Internet with its instant access, real time delivery of information and flexibility in medium (computer, cellphone) takes over. Well, for the past few weeks, I've been experimenting with the Globe's new "GlobeReader" service. More info here. This is a paid service whereby every morning a fresh copy of that day's paper is downloaded to your PC (or Mac). Unlike www.boston.com, you have full access to the paper (including crossword puzzles), can increase or decrease font size, email links or full copies of articles, retain seven full days of content, easily navigate full articles, and "subscribe" on multiple home computers. You need Internet access for only the few minutes it takes to download that day's news.
Ultimately, we'll see if this service flies and whether the Internet generation, accustomed to reading news for free via web browsers, will find this a valuable way to get information. My own conclusion, after just a few weeks, is that this makes sense. Saving (i.e., clipping) articles is a snap, I can read the news wherever I can access a laptop (which is nearly most places these days) and I don't mind that this is environmentally friendly as well.
I'll let you know how it goes after another few weeks.
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