[BN] Blitz, Media, Pay Walls, Journalism Survival, etc...

[Just Jack]

Again, I'll reiterate... give me a media pass for $20 good across most newspapers and media outlets across the nation, let me pick and choose articles I want to read at whatever price you want to attach, say $.25 per view...

Similar to the way I get my daily comics. My local paper went to delivery three days a week, and with my travel schedule for work, and that most of their articles are on their website already for free, I decided to drop my subscription. But I still wanted a way to get my daily comics. Low and behold, there are two websites that you can subscribe to and get pretty much any comics you want. I found ones I haven't seen in years, and they arrive in my email every morning. Cost is minimal in my eyes, pay just once a year. There are free options out there if you want that.

 

Go Comics - $20/year

http://www.gocomics.com/

 

Comics Kingdom - $20/year

https://comicskingdom.com/

[smuvtalker]

You had Glenn Danzig on your paper route?

I don't remember his name. I was 13 at the time, so it would've been 1987. If my memory serves me correctly, he was kinda tall, lanky white guy with long blonde hair. Judging from the paraphernalia he gave me, the band seemed to be just getting started. I don't listen to heavy metal, but I was a teenager who was happy to get free(there's that word again) t-shirts, hats, buttons and stickers from a really cool guy who was my best tipper!

 

Side bar: I also delivered the Post to NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson's grandmother...

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I don't remember his name. I was 13 at the time, so it would've been 1987. If my memory serves me correctly, he was kinda tall, lanky white guy with long blonde hair. Judging from the paraphernalia he gave me, the band seemed to be just getting started. I don't listen to heavy metal, but I was a teenager who was happy to get free(there's that word again) t-shirts, hats, buttons and stickers from a really cool guy who was my best tipper!

 

Side bar: I also delivered the Post to NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson's grandmother...

Well that's not Glenn Danzig.

[nucci]

Why is the thread pinned? What does this have to do with the BUFFALO BILLS?

Because the subject matter being discussed is whether or not to pay to read articles on the BUFFALO BILLS

[eball]

For what it's worth, I haven't read an article from the BN for over a week and I don't feel a bit less informed about the Buffalo Bills.

[Seasons1992]

I put down my phone and fired up the laptop to respond to this off-topic topic.

 

As a journalism major (that I don't use, but still appreciate), I could not agree more with SDS.

 

The one last bastion of good journalism is long-form. I enjoy The Atlantic for that very reason. I think The Ringer is one of the best "new" sites/brands/sources of information on ALL topics out there. (Take your hate of Boston out of your responses {Bill Simmons} and actually go there/listen/read the content.) I bet Jerry Sullivan can do good work in long-format, but he doesn't have the ability or the BN won't give him that ability.

 

There is so much garbage being thrown to the public these days both on TV and in print/e-journalism. I would, and do, GLADLY pay $3 to weed out the nonsense for quality. My time is the most valuable thing in my life currently and whatever buys me 3 minutes of extra quality, I will pay for.

 

War Larry Felser.

 

Bills 27, Carolina 20

[CSBill]

There's really no need to complain about the BN paywall since it's ridiculously easy to get around it. I also disagree that anything else short of a paying money for news content is freeloading - getting eyes on advertisements is worth something.

 

Please tell

Edited September 17, 2017 by CSBill

[SDS]

 

Please tell

We don't promote ways to steal another business's product.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I put down my phone and fired up the laptop to respond to this off-topic topic.

 

As a journalism major (that I don't use, but still appreciate), I could not agree more with SDS.

 

The one last bastion of good journalism is long-form. I enjoy The Atlantic for that very reason. I think The Ringer is one of the best "new" sites/brands/sources of information on ALL topics out there. (Take your hate of Boston out of your responses {Bill Simmons} and actually go there/listen/read the content.) I bet Jerry Sullivan can do good work in long-format, but he doesn't have the ability or the BN won't give him that ability.

 

There is so much garbage being thrown to the public these days both on TV and in print/e-journalism. I would, and do, GLADLY pay $3 to weed out the nonsense for quality. My time is the most valuable thing in my life currently and whatever buys me 3 minutes of extra quality, I will pay for.

 

War Larry Felser.

 

Bills 27, Carolina 20

It's hard to take any media seriously when they lack any semblance of objectivity or are caught lying outright without retraction. And I'm certainly not going to pay for that.

[JoeF]

$36 a year......jeez..give up a cup of coffee or a pack of cigs a month....skip one cocktail every two months at a bar for TBN...Tim Graham's gotta eat.

Edited September 17, 2017 by JoeF

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

$36 a year......jeez..give up a cup of coffee or a pack of cigs a month....skip one cocktail every two months at a bar to TBN...Tim Graham's gotta eat.

Everyone holds up Tim graham as if he's Pulitzer reincarnated. I don't see it.

[Chandler#81]

Surprised you didn't ask for payment to read your post. The paper who shall remain nameless should seek ad revenue or survey revenue.

 

Surprised you're still an active member.

 

Good post, SDS. In my view, many here have shown to be better writers than most of the 'sports journalists' associated w/the BN. Would any of us commit to insightful, thought and conversational provoking articles under a deadline 2-3X week for free in this digital age? Hell no.

 

Pay the Man.

[artmalibu]

I sure hope that BN is paying A LOT to the owners of Two Billls Drive for all the advertising.

 

After all nothing is free....

[mead107]

Surprised you're still an active member.

 

Good post, SDS. In my view, many here have shown to be better writers than most of the 'sports journalists' associated w/the BN. Would any of us commit to insightful, thought and conversational provoking articles under a deadline 2-3X week for free in this digital age? Hell no.

Pay the Man.

Very good

[North Buffalo]

I am not going to pay for a BN Bills supscription... BN gets most of its money thru advertisers and clicks. Not gonna add to it. Like ESPN insider not gonna encourage this business model. But like all models it will rise and fall based on Capialistic principals... either it makes money and maintains enough clicks for advertisers or advertisers will leave and it will revert to the previous model... my hope!

[oldmanfan]

I guess if I truly thought that the information I was getting through the Blitz was that uniquely insightful I'd pony up the money. Not like it would break the bank. I just don't think the insights from some or maybe most of the writers are anything I can't find in other sites.

 

I like Gaughan. Used to like Vic but he seems to write a lot of stuff now that Seems questionable because he feels pressed to write something every day. I like Sullivan's stuff when it's focused on college things or personal interest but his stuff on the Bills is just tired and old, plus I don't like his childish satire that he believes is good writing. I have no use for Gleason at all. The new woman we'll see.

 

maybe I'll do the two week trial and see.

[RochesterLifer]

I'm not a newcomer, as I have been reading Bills and Sabres posts here for as long as I can remember. This is an outstanding discussion; touching on the state of journalism, economic health of publications and expectations of readers and sports fans. Thank you to the mod, your insights and comments are informed and thoughtful.

 

I can tell you that paying for TBN was an easy decision for me. I signed up immediately. The bottom line is that I am a Buffalo sports fan and I feel these are exciting times for us. I see the Sabres on the front side of an explosive leap forward. While the Bills are not as far advanced in their building process, I truly believe that Beane and McDermott are righting the ship, creating future good times.

 

I want to know our teams, their direction, the leaders and the players. I just spent the past hour reading six Sabres articles where I learned about our new players and Housley's vision. TBN contributed two quality articles to my enjoyable morning. On the football side, I feel educated and prepared for today's Bills/Panthers game. TBN has more articles in this mix than I can count (ok, I can count, 11).

 

My easy decision is that TBN contributes to my quality of life with their local sports coverage. $3 a month does not even get my attention. Those of you offended by Jerry Sullivan? I'm with you. I do not believe he deserves a paycheck. Negativity, condescension and arrogance is easy to deliver and a style of writing used by lazy minds. However, in the grand scheme, TBN provides information I crave as I enjoy my beloved Buffalo sports.

 

Thank you for this board also. Two Bills Drive is fantastic. Honestly, I would pay for access here too. I look forward to reading the posts every day.

 

Go Bills. Go Sabres. Good times are ahead.

[HappyDays]

 

Jerry Sullivan isn't their only columnist. If this is your excuse, then what you are really saying is that you will never pay for content.

If this is the BN's stance then they are not going to turn this thing around. Look through this thread. Numerous people saying the negativity of Jerry Sullivan and Bucky Gleason has pushed them away from the BN. I can see their columns posted for free right here on TSW, by multiple posters a day. They might write that grating negative style more professionally than the posters that do it here, but it's all the same to me. FWIW I don't listen to Schopp and the Bulldog anymore. Schopp has awful opinions. "I'd throw the ball 40 times a game no matter what" - he said that multiple times last year. Does he watch football? I don't know, but I'm not gonna listen to that crap. If WGR suddenly charged a subscription to listen to Schopp ramble about his uneducated opinions, I wouldn't pay just to support local journalists. Give me smart content.

 

So if the BN has decided people like me aren't worth pursuing, they're wrong. I have numerous subscriptions to various websites and media outlets. If there was some astoundingly high quality in the BN, like particularly interesting All-22 breakdowns, I would ignore the Jerry Sullivan garbage. But let's be honest, the other content provided by the BN is average at best. I love the Bills. I spend a good amount of money on them. I would spend $3 a month to get above average coverage but that's not what the BN provides so why would I bother?

 

This whole discussion has actually convinced me to go subscribe to Cover1. Their subscriptions are only $1 a month and it's interesting Bills content I can't find anywhere else. That's the model I'm gonna give my money too. Not a model that promotes whiny clueless columns.

[BuffaloMatt]

Surprised you're still an active member.

 

Good post, SDS. In my view, many here have shown to be better writers than most of the 'sports journalists' associated w/the BN. Would any of us commit to insightful, thought and conversational provoking articles under a deadline 2-3X week for free in this digital age? Hell no.

 

Pay the Man.

Why? Oh, was that an attempt at humor? Clearly my post was and it also pointed out that there are other mechanisms that can be use to generate revenue. Go Bills.

[MILFHUNTER#518]

My uncle was the head of the accounting dept for one NY city newspaper, that was (and probably still is) losing money. The owners solution to bring in more money? Buy another small city newspaper that was losing money. My uncle only stayed as long as he did because he felt sorry for the other employees, not the owner. Once he finally decided to leave, it was a huge relief, he's been a lot happier than he was there wondering if they'd make payroll each week.

 

 

 

Because the owner of this site (SDS) decided to pin it since there's been so many people complaining about it.

Her company does the same thing,buys up struggling small newspapers and "streamlines them." I don't understand it either because they still struggle in the end. Maybe they hope to flip them after they start turning a profit?

 

OBTW Scott owns this board, he can pin a thread on unicorns and albino midgets if he so chooses...👊