Guess print sales are really down: The Wall Street Journal and Amazon are launching online wineries in an effort to make more money trafficking in getting people wasted than they were by getting them to read. Amazon's site isn't up yet, but mosey on down to WSJwine to get all sorts of Sideways without ever leaving your small, dark apartment.
Sounds great. Especially if you're 16 and no one is checking IDs:
Taking a cue from all those kids working for him over at MySpace, Australian immortal Rupert Murdoch imparted a new design for the Wall Street Journal online. The new site, which goes live tomorrow, includes more features for the paid memberships accounts, and restricted access for the plebes who choose not to fork over their dough.
Sure, it was always possible to read WSJ articles that were technically membership only, but now if you wanted to say, comment on any of the pieces and engage in a spirited debate with other individuals, you need the premium membership account. There is also a network function for the premies; so it will be just like MySpace, except that you will be forced to use your real name and identity, as verified against your billing address, on the site. The concept behind this pulling-back of the Internet's anonymous curtain being that the news sites where anyone is allowed to comment under a pseudonym (*ahem*) leave themselves open for baseless, personal attacks. CONTINUED »
People are only willing to pay for porn and comics online. That’s why Rupert Murdoch, Aussie savant that he is, has hinted at said he would remove the pay wall on WSJ.com.
The move will cost Dow Jones $63 million in subscription revenue. Industry consultants estimate that WSJ.com will have to boost traffic by 130 percent to make up for the loss. Heads up to the marketing department at Lexus: expect a lot of calls from ad reps at WSJ.com who are looking to cover the difference. CONTINUED »
