Sonoma newspaper gives up on pay wall
By Gina Cuclis
Call it an experiment that didn't work.
This week Sonoma Index Tribune publisher and editor-in-cheif Bill Lynch announced he "pulled the plug" on his historic newspaper's online subscription. As he said in Tuesday's editorial (the Index Tribune publishes on Tuesdays and Fridays) the subscription program, "was not 'user friendly.'" Read his editorial.
Good Decision
In August the Index Tribune stopped making content available online to those who didn't have a subscription. I wrote a post August 30 expressing this could be a bad idea. With another newspaper in Sonoma Valley offering its online content at no charge, I questioned whether people would pay to access the Index Tribune online?
The situation became more questionable in the last couple weeks with the launch of another source of free local online news, Sonoma Patch. Sonoma Patch is a hyperlocal news site sponsored by AOL. It's one of three Patch sites recently launched serving Sonoma County communities. A fourth Sonoma County Patch site is coming online soon. For more about Sonoma County Patch sites, read these posts from November 9 and December 3.
Finding a Business Model that Works
The Index Tribune's experience is another example of a newspaper trying to figure out how to stay profitable in the digital age. I think the owners learned they took a step that may have alienated readers. However, they are justified in their quest to try new things, and to expect their readers to understand the paper can't survive if it isn't profitable.
I would appreciate hearing what you think about the Index Tribune's change of mind. Please leave a relevant comment.
Posted by Gina Cuclis at 12/16/2010 12:19 PM 
Categories: Newspapers, State of the Media, News sites
Tags: Gina Cuclis Sonoma Valley Sonoma Index Tribune newspapers Patch
Categories: Newspapers, State of the Media, News sites
Tags: Gina Cuclis Sonoma Valley Sonoma Index Tribune newspapers Patch
As a long time subscriber to the Sonoma Index Tribune I felt really good about going "green" by reading the local news online so I'm frustrated by the removal of this service. I hope it comes back but won't hold my breath.
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Hi Gina,
I was told yesterday by the woman who answered the phone at the I-T that the Sonoma Index-Tribune is not only killing their comment function but will (or have) remove access to past comments. About mid-December I called with the same question and they told me they were "upgrading" the website.
But unfortunately, they have engaged in taking down articles that attracted negative comments rather than just removing the comments. Their was no explanation. That article was about the former President of Sonoma Valley Bank being hired by Rabobank to work at a new branch in Sonoma.
In spite of the fact that the I-T has run interference for former bank management and directors I still defended them against the scourge, in my opinion, of AOL/Patch's corporate "local" news arrival.
http://www.sonomanews.com/opinion/letters/article_3d993e28-146d-11e0-8958-001cc4c03286.html
Myself and others criticism of the newspaper's curious lack of investigative interest in the bank's failure has caused me to be banned from their facebook page (since they have no more comment function).
I find that a little thankless since my letter about the insidious nature of AOL's gameplan and defends local newspapers, was seen by most of the Patch sites, and other newspapers including the comment area in the NY Times on a story about AOL. It got lots of eyeballs. The NY TImes then followed with a story about the Patch a few weeks later where a Mr. Bill Lynch was quoted. Coincidental? Maybe. He indicated he wasn't worried about the Patch because of strong local support.
I'm sorry for the topic mashup but it is all related because if Lynch would decide to not filter the news for the people of Sonoma Valley, especially about the bank's failure, we could whole-heartedly support his paper.
Meanwhile, the Sun is free and has a comment function but for whatever reason is afraid to take on
difficult local stories even though the Press Democrat has broken them first.
Is it any wonder that Julian Assange is ascending and trending?
Cheers
Dennis Hipps
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