Internet interest in popular news sites like The New York Times may actually be declining. The Gray Lady is ranked the 108th most popular site on the Internet, but daily pageviews are down 5.32% over the last three months. At the Chicago Tribune, things are even worse, with Internet readership down 19.1%.During this same period, two local papers are doing great. Online interest in The Morning Call is up 37%. At The Express Times, it's slightly better, at 41%.
Why is this happening? Personally, I think it's the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle. China just loves him, kinda' like France with Jerry Lewis. Whatever the reason, it's good news for local papers.
5 comments:
the express-times is the slowest loading sight on the internet. i've emailed management but never recieved a response. also there layout is all goofed up. oh well.
agree with above re: the e-t layout. it's so jumbled, it's the internet equivalent of kindergarten finger painting (although it's consistent with the writing level of their current style book).
Kindergarten finger painting? Must be why I like it.
The fact that online content is going up but actual paper subscriptions is going down locally can partyly be attributed to the fact that the comments allowed on the online content prove to be more interesting and insightful than the actual articles sometimes, especially if the topic is controversial.
Probably not all real. Gannett has a feature on their local newspaper websites called "Mom's Like Me" where they actually had ad managers go on and start discussions posing as stay at home moms. Wouldn't be at all surprised if they are at least somewhat ginning up the numbers, much like when they have all the employees redeem coupons at local advertisers to show big response.
Newspapers have been playing those games for years in print, only a matter of time until they move their shell game to the net.
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