4 Minute Roundup: WSJ's Social Media Guidelines; NYT's Pay Plans. Here’s the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the Wall Street Journal’s code of conduct for reporters and editors, with guidelines for using Twitter and social media sites. Plus, the New York Times is considering two different plans for charging for online content — a metering system and subscription system — according to a report in the New York Observer. And “Quotable” includes a comment from Kevin Thau of Twitter explaining how a small startup tech company can make a big difference now.
Check it out: Background music is “What the World Needs” by the The Ukelele Hipster Kings via PodSafe Music Network Here are some links to related sites and stories mentioned in the podcast: New WSJ Conduct Rules Target Twitter, Facebook at E&P Newspapers Tweeting Like Crazy — But What Are the Rules? WSJ’s Social-Networking Twits at Time New York Times Considers Two Plans to Charge for Content on the Web at NY Observer Jennifer 8 Lee’s tweet from NYT meeting. The case for charging to read WSJ.Com. First of two partsProponents and opponents of paid content often invoke the subscription model at the Wall Street Journal Online as the reason for why their point of view is right.
In the following guest commentary, Bill Grueskin, former managing editor of WSJ.Com, sorts through what he calls “a few common myths” to provide insights into why and how the Journal came to be the most prominent pay site on the web. He left the Journal last summer to become the dean of academic affairs at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.By Bill GrueskinFebruary 2005 was a tough month for those of us who worked at the Wall Street Journal Online, where I was in my fourth year as managing editor. A slew of media experts were telling the world that we were making a mistake of historic proportions by keeping WSJ.Com a paid site.
The criticism usually followed the same route. First, the author would invoke the obligatory paean to the Journal’s historic greatness. The Praized Blog » Blog Archive » Are Newspapers Outsourcing Core Features to Foursquare? Subscribe to WSJ Professional. WSJ cuts prices in battle with New York Times. The End To “Free” At The Wall Street Journal – 24/7 Wall St. It costs money to subscribe to the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The price is $2.29 a week to be exact. The newspaper also charges for its $1.99 a week for its online edition. The best no-cost way to get WSJ content has been on handheld devices like the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry devices and Apple (AAPL) iPhones. The Journal is going to cut off free access to mobile readers and plans to charge them considerable fees. WSJ is taking a chance by charging for the content on mobile devices. But, Rupert Murdoch has said he plans to charge for the online content that his companies produce. Murdoch may find he is simply trading new subscription revenue for lost advertising revenue, making his plan a zero sum game.
Douglas A. The Secrets of Marketing in a Web 2.0 World. Forum wsj.