Online news sites: wishing or trending?

Rading the posting on "online newspapers' bottom line update" on Editorsweblog this morning. A few thoughts come to mind:

* Yes, consumers began paying for TV content in the form of cable subs - almost 40 years after TV's full commercial advent. At this rate, newspapers will be able to charge for content beginning in 2015 (taking into account an accelerated change in behavior over earlier media).

* Additionally, that date could be...never. Given the strong belief - and, importantly, documented behavior - among younger readers that "information wants to be free," I'm not sure they will ever care that "content could become so good." Aside from music content (videos and MP3s), this generation will simply look for other - free - content. And they're the future readers and behave as they are, not how media CEOs want them to. Is there any research showing young consumers willingly paying for news content? And won't there always be free sources that will be of "good enough" quality?

* A technical solution to a provider's need (micropayments) does not a thing for fulfilling consumers' needs - and the customer drives uptake here, not the business model of the provider. This treats a paper's readership as an installed base instead of as an audience - and we have to remember that installed bases never applaud, while audiences do - if the performance mertis it. Google really gets this.

These pronouncements sound more like wishes than trends.

Little things highlight big thinking at the BBC

Those sneaky BBCers are being terribly excellent again.

At the bottom of their story yesterday about the four London bombers (hmm...our style guide suggests “terrorists”), they have a small form with the following header:

“Did you know any of the men involved? Send us your comments using the form below.”

And right there, at the bottom of their perfectly normal news story, they again show their ability to change the world as we know it, simply by asking readers to fill in their name, email address, town and country, phone number (optionally), and any comments.

With just a few lines of code – code, mind you, from a news organization - they’ve leapt light-years ahead of competition and miles down the road of involving citizens in their work.

Think of the scoop they might uncover. Think of the reader comments that will provide fresh and innovative angles, insights, thinking, opinions, and discussion into the news of last Thursday. Think of the page views and minutes spent on the site based on that free community-developed content.

No surprise here. The Beeb was also quick to post mobile-phone images and videos from the bomb scenes last week, prompting news stories about this new form of immediate journalism. (The LA Times wrote the story, but the link is to Yahoo because the Times has the story - yawn - behind a registration system.)

Smart examples of citizen journalism abound these days, but large organizations have almost refused to embrace the phenomenon – even to their clear advantage. Sure, these outfits ask readers for comments about a story or to write Letters to Grand-Poobah Editors – but rarely as a way to extend their coverage.

Jolly good show, BBC.

Have the London bombers inadvertently helped newspapers survive?

In the wake of the London bombings, New York authorities have shut down wireless and cell-phone systems serving the city’s tunnels.

While the investigation of last week’s subway and bus bombings in the English capital continue, findings from the Madrid bombing are conclusive: Those bombs, which killed almost 200 people, were detonated by cell phones.

With plans in Boston and other cities well underway to ‘unwire’ subways and give riders mobile and wireless access to entertainment, email, news, and more during their commutes, one has to ask if security will trump the free market. Will the authorities, in the name of safety and to deny terrorists at least one avenue of attack, keep the tunnels under our great cities dark and off the grid?

While consumers have been cheering the chance to access the grid from below ground, the cheers we’ll be hearing now will come from newsrooms across the land. Those 20 minutes underground may signify newspapers' only competitive advantage for the foreseeable future - or until the 'war on terror' is 'won.'

Talk about a 'captive audience.'

News Audience...Sheep...News Audience...Sheep. You Choose.

Hmmm....the latest AP stories (6:54 pm, EST), on Yahoo:

• Hurricane Dennis Kills at Least 10 in Cuba AP - 2 minutes ago
• London Bombs Likely Simple and Homemade AP - 29 minutes ago
• Supreme Court Speculation Fuels Rumors AP - 17 minutes ago
• Resolute G-8 Leaders Unveil African Aid AP - 32 minutes ago
• Congress Likely to Restore Transit Funds AP - 34 minutes ago

And here, the Most E-mailed stories, at the same time:

• Graco recalls 1.1 million baby strollers -- CPSC Reuters - Thu Jul 7, 3:51 PM ET
• 450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey AP - 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
• Health Screenings for Teflon to Start AP - Fri Jul 8, 1:23 PM ET
• Couple Sentenced for Hiring Son a Stripper AP - Fri Jul 8,10:59 AM ET
• Hospital sued over man's deadly faint Reuters - Fri Jul 8,11:22 AM ET

So there's that age-old question: Does the media lead the audience, or simply give them what they want?