Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/49729
4A Daily News – Friday, December 9, 2011 Opinion What's free anymore? D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 With the implementation of paywalls for newspaper sites, including the Daily News for the past several weeks, there has been a lot of talk about the value of news and the model that charges readers for access to it. For those not on the Web, a Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Sources say there is a rise in counter–factu- alism writings which deal with the "what if" factor. It is called "alt-history" currently featur- ing subjects such as "What if Germany had invaded Britain" and all the takes on the John F. Kennedy assassination. I mention this because my coming book on the rise and fall of Minch's Wholesale Meats invites conjecture. In writing the book, 36 years after the plant's demise, I speculate as to what if I had not taken on partners and had promoted family members to executive positions instead? And what if I had reduced the work force by two-thirds and concentrated on auction yard slaughter instead of the eventual money losing feedlot steers and heifers? Perhaps, with the benefit of hind sight, we might be still in production today. And a fas- cinating note about "alt-history" is that people might be alive today as a result. How can that be? Well, when my father died, and I took over the reins, Uncle Stanley had two sons, Clifford, known as "Cam," and David John, both work- ing at the plant. They were smart and hard workers and I could have placed them in man- agerial positions. Instead I gave them no encouragement and they eventually went their separate ways. David John served as a probation officer for years and is now retired. Cam become a bush pilot in Alaska...and was lost in a flight over the Bearing Sea. If he had stayed at the plant, he might be alive today. Years later, it is still food for thought. * * * Martin Amis is a fine writer of fiction and, in a current novel, came up with the fascinating name of "Sister Edgar." Is that not an unlikely name for a nun? Don't nuns usually take names such as Mary, or Theresa or something more saintly than Edgar? However, I have known a few people named Edgar in my lifetime, and they were good folks. Mrs. Edgar was in charge of the cafeteria when I was in high school. Edgar Kennedy was a comedian in the movies and remembered for his "slow burn," J. Edgar Hoover might have been a cross-dresser, but he helped nab the bad guys…and of course Edgar Allen Poe was an entertaining chap. I think that paywall allows online readers to view a set number of stories each month before requiring them to purchase an online subscription to the newspaper in order to contin- ue. This conversation has been tak- ing place here in Red Bluff, but the same conversations have been tak- ing place all over the nation – and much of the feedback is negative. Some of the more common statements from both sides – those who despise paywalls and those who support newspapers' right to charge for the content they pay journalists to create – have been: "It's been free since the begin- ning, so it should always be free." "What makes you think you are owed free news?" "The news is so poorly pro- duced it's not worth a plug nickel." "Everybody's a critic, but nobody does a better job produc- ing relevant, local content." "Newspapers should try to sell ads to support their websites so users can have free access." "Newspapers have large adver- tising sales departments that have been doing just that for decades, but the news still costs more to report than is generated by online ad revenue." "Newspaper companies are greedy and just want to increase their profits by charging for online content." "You obviously know very little about the industry and its financial condition." "Newspapers are dying and this is just a desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable." "Newspapers are struggling, as is just about every other industry in this economy. But being paid a small fee for the work they do isn't unreasonable and may help keep them afloat until things improve." Spend a few minutes on the Web and you'll find these conver- sations – or reasonable facsimiles thereof – repeated at the end of any stories about the introduction of paywalls. I'm not taking sides, just framing the issue. Our sister publication, the Chico Enterprise-Record, was a test site for the paywall along with another MediaNews Group prop- erty in the east. Initial results were promising. Those who criticized everything the ER did and never spent a dime on the newspaper, but regular- ly visited its website, were the most outspo- ken and refused to sign up. The majority, though, recognized the value in maintaining a strong connection with their community via a healthy local news source. Our results have been less encouraging. Our core supporters subscribe to the print edition and prefer it to redbluffdailynews.com. While we appreciate this loyalty, it's been discouraging that the beats the heck out of sitting around griping about how things used to be. Finally, detractors Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. thousands who visited our site each day have dwindled due to the paywall. To address this, we are aggres- sively working to provide web- only content, such as video clips, expanded PRCA results and cov- erage and additional blogs and interactivity, such as reader polls. This is no easy task with a greatly diminished workforce, but we will do all we can with the tal- ent we have. In my mind, this will argue they can get their news elsewhere online free of charge. Take a little chal- lenge – indulge me for a moment. Go online and try to find truly local news – not gossip, club and commercial sites, user ratings of business- es or services, com- ments and attacks nor personal ramblings – and compare that to the news and credible infor- mation you find each day in the Daily News. It took me 17 results on Google to find a local news story not from the Daily News – a breakdown of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam Fish Passage Improvement Project. A story the Daily News began reporting in 2003 and for which it provided the same information in 2008. Chip reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Commentary What if? about sums it up about the Edgars except Edgar Bergen…but then Charlie McCarthy made all the funny wisecracks. * * * Columnist Jon Carroll in the S.F.Chron is promoting his favorite charity…the "Untied Way." No, not the "United Way," the "Untied Way." The virtue of his pro- gram is that there is no over- head, no highly paid execu- tives running the show. To participate you merely stuff your pockets with 10 or 20 dollar bills…and then you walk around town and hand them out to the needy. If you balk (as would, say, D.Pol- son) and not hand them out because you fear the needy would buy booze or dope, that is understandable…but it is not char- itable. It is a lovely concept that might be adapt- ed by the City Council in lieu of their ignoring homes for the homeless. * * * Robert Minch I Say day when I went into the same shop. One clerk was talking to a customer, and the other clerk was turned sideways watch- ing the conversation. It must have been a fascinating con- versation for he did not move and completely ignored me. Believing in the axiom that time is money, I waited for a few minutes, but when the clerk failed to acknowledge my presence, I turned on my heel, went across the street and purchased the adhesive. Not much of a story...but then not much of a service, either. * * * Last week's quiz was answered by several readers who knew that the Hindu The DN, from time to time, gives space to merchants who provide great service, but they never, to my knowledge, report on poor service. Therefore, allow me to report a store, which shall go un-named, but deserves a reverse acco- lade. I required a rear view mirror for the Polaris that I use in my stall cleaning adventures. It is a nifty little rig but does not come with rear view mirror, and as all of us truck drivers know, we are lost without one. So I went into a local auto parts store and asked if they had one with a rub- ber suction device that I could use on the inside of the front window. He showed me one, I bought it and when I got back to the ranch dis- covered that a special adhesive was required to affix it to the windshield. I called the clerk and asked him if he thought it might be a good idea to inform the buyer of this little adhesive acces- sory. He may not have understood my question but he did not answer...so I asked him if he had the stuff in stock and he said yes. Cut to the next Trinity is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, that the RCA symbol is the terrier listening to "His mas- ter's voice" and that Hitler was Time's Man of The Year for 1938. This week's quiz: What type engine went into Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis airplane, what author first described the "Yahoos" and name a few metal tokens in the Monopoly board game. * * * A cop pulled a driver over and ordered him to breathe into a breathalyzer tube. The driver said he couldn't because he would have an asth- ma attack. The patrolman said, OK let's go to the station for a blood sample but the driver said he was a hemophiliac and might bleed to death. He then ordered him to give a urine sample, but the driver said he was diabetic and would get a really low blood sugar. Finally the cop told him to get out of the car and walk a white line. The driver said he couldn't. When the cop asked him why, he replied, "Because I am drunk." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Thompson can be e-mail at