PHUKET: How much would you be prepared to pay for your twice-daily dose of Phuketwan? We ask this question knowing that a certain type of reader will fire off a predicable response.
But we also know that there are thousands of more thoughtful readers who seldom express an opinion just for the sake of it, and who actually appreciate what Phuketwan provides - for free.
Traditional media around the world is now in its death throes. Readers and advertisers are turning away from print faster than you can say ''newspapers are obsolete.''
In Australia, newspaper brands that once turned a huge profit and produced great journalism are rushing to quit print and move online.
It's the same everywhere. Print is over.
Rupert Murdoch is among those leading the charge, with that icon of British press freedom and topless page three girls, The Sun, shrinking behind a user paywall. (sign up quick and a free Calvin Klein Delicious Pout Lip Gloss is yours - choose from three colors and flavors.)
Phuketwan already operates with a small, dedicated staff but larger organisations everywhere are shrugging off workers in the rush to get out of print and to develop a paying online model.
It isn't easy. New data in Australia reveals an alarming disparity for media players: for every $1 lost in print revenue, just 8 cents is recovered in online ads.
This means that national dailies are shrinking because they can only afford to be city-based, and city-based newspapers are shrinking because they can only afford to be community-based.
The Boston Globe, which changed hands for $1.1 billion two decades ago, was snapped up this week for $70 million.
New models are emerging and feisty community-based online products have a chance of survival if they do their job well and prove their value.
Phuketwan, the first Phuket English-language online news outlet to provide Comment access and Photo Albums and to win a brace of international awards, is now considering what to do next.
Going behind a paywall is one of our options.
Since we began, we've had the support of loyal sponsors who have stuck with us through thick and thin. In return, they have enjoyed the benefits of being associated with a quality product.
Those loyal brands are being seen each day now by a greater number of readers than ever. However, Phuketwan still requires more support to break even.
The kind of paywall we envisage means some content would still be free, but top value content would come at a cost to subscribers only.
The advantage would be that behind the paywall, we'd be free to be even more revealing and outspoken than we have been in the past.
Ultimately, the choice is ours. We could shut up shop and walk away, as some other publishers are contemplating.
We could appeal for more sponsorship support to cover our costs - and any profit would go towards improving our journalism.
Or we could move towards the paywall model, with users contributing to buy Phuketwan online in the way their grandparents once traditionally subscribed to have a newspaper thrown over the fence.
We're interested to hear your views. As always, we are most interested in readers who have something of value to add.
But we also know that there are thousands of more thoughtful readers who seldom express an opinion just for the sake of it, and who actually appreciate what Phuketwan provides - for free.
Traditional media around the world is now in its death throes. Readers and advertisers are turning away from print faster than you can say ''newspapers are obsolete.''
In Australia, newspaper brands that once turned a huge profit and produced great journalism are rushing to quit print and move online.
It's the same everywhere. Print is over.
Rupert Murdoch is among those leading the charge, with that icon of British press freedom and topless page three girls, The Sun, shrinking behind a user paywall. (sign up quick and a free Calvin Klein Delicious Pout Lip Gloss is yours - choose from three colors and flavors.)
Phuketwan already operates with a small, dedicated staff but larger organisations everywhere are shrugging off workers in the rush to get out of print and to develop a paying online model.
It isn't easy. New data in Australia reveals an alarming disparity for media players: for every $1 lost in print revenue, just 8 cents is recovered in online ads.
This means that national dailies are shrinking because they can only afford to be city-based, and city-based newspapers are shrinking because they can only afford to be community-based.
The Boston Globe, which changed hands for $1.1 billion two decades ago, was snapped up this week for $70 million.
New models are emerging and feisty community-based online products have a chance of survival if they do their job well and prove their value.
Phuketwan, the first Phuket English-language online news outlet to provide Comment access and Photo Albums and to win a brace of international awards, is now considering what to do next.
Going behind a paywall is one of our options.
Since we began, we've had the support of loyal sponsors who have stuck with us through thick and thin. In return, they have enjoyed the benefits of being associated with a quality product.
Those loyal brands are being seen each day now by a greater number of readers than ever. However, Phuketwan still requires more support to break even.
The kind of paywall we envisage means some content would still be free, but top value content would come at a cost to subscribers only.
The advantage would be that behind the paywall, we'd be free to be even more revealing and outspoken than we have been in the past.
Ultimately, the choice is ours. We could shut up shop and walk away, as some other publishers are contemplating.
We could appeal for more sponsorship support to cover our costs - and any profit would go towards improving our journalism.
Or we could move towards the paywall model, with users contributing to buy Phuketwan online in the way their grandparents once traditionally subscribed to have a newspaper thrown over the fence.
We're interested to hear your views. As always, we are most interested in readers who have something of value to add.
I would be prepared to pay a monthly 'paywall model' fee for your news-site.
Considering the popularity of your website, you could also implement a 'paid' property listing section.
Can you send me advertise costs for your website?
Posted by Mr. K on August 4, 2013 11:44
Editor Comment:
Sure. Thanks for the suggestion.