TIMES UP FOR FREE COLUMNS ON PAPER'S WEB SITE (NY Times Charging $49.95/year, Drudge to yank links)

NY Post ^ | 9/14/05 | KEITH J. KELLY

[jimbo123]

The New York Times, which had been operating an all-free Web site, nytimes.com, will begin charging a fee for access to its major columnists under a new program called Times Select.

Starting Sept. 19, the New York Times will charge $49.95 a year for online users to access 22 columnists including Tom Friedman, David Brooks, Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, Bob Herbert, Nicholas Kristof and Frank Rich.

-snip-

Cybergossip Matt Drudge is threatening to boot the Times columnists.

"I will yank the Times scribes if I can't find other outlets that are planning to carry them," threatened Drudge. "The Internet is losing its innocence."

[jimbo123]

The Crimes continues their descent into irrelevance.

[AppyPappy]

You mean people would PAY to read that crap online????

[AppyPappy]

"The Internet is losing its innocence." said the King of Popup Ads, Matt Drudge.

[coconutt2000]

Webmaster: "Our web site traffic is stagnant. No growth."

Editor: "Well, let's start charging for content. That should improve our web traffic."

[PBRSTREETGANG]

If you paid me $49.95 I still wouldn't read this drivel.

[over3Owithabrain]

LOL - I rarely go to Drudge anymore, since I get bombarded with popups, spyware, adware, etc. He's a huckster.

[JohnLongIsland]

who do they think they are charging for their content?
the wall street journal

[Gone GF]

"The Internet is losing its innocence."

I nearly spit my coffee on my monitor. What innocence? The man's either completely ignorant or he's using a soundbite he knows isn't true.

[MNJohnnie]

They were completely worthless free, cannot imagine anyone would bother to PAY to ready their irrelevant babbling.

[reagan_fanatic]

Paying for the Times?? That's like following your neighbor around, picking up after his dog and paying him for the privilege of doing so.

[TheBattman]

Let's see - I don't go there. Sonow I'm suppose topay $49 a year to not go there????

[AppyPappy]

No more calls. We have a winner.

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping

[norwaypinesavage]

The NYY accelerates its sinking into irrelevance. RIP NYT.

[jimbo123]

The money will be donated to Maureen Dowd's Duracell fund.

[Waco]

For 49.95 you get access to 72 commies? No thanks.

[fatteddy]

i second that! the old gray lady is in trouble..

[COUNTrecount]

Cheaper by the roll at Costco.

[numberonepal]

I hope it's a large caliber they shoot their foot with.

[OldFriend]

LOL.....I thought it said that the NYS was going to pay people to read their 'news' paper.