Journal Star puts in a real paywall
They clearly have work to do to build subscriber loyalty. But this is a step in the right direction. Giving away content for free is a big disincentive for subscribers. Maybe they'll step up their investigative reporting now? Granted, past performance would indicate otherwise, but maybe the new editor will make a difference.Toldyouso wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:55 am Today’s paper had a “subscriber’s only” article about the expansion of Dac’s Smokehouse. I’m sure it’s a great article. I’m not a subscriber, so I can’t read it. However, this news broke over a week ago on (free tv channel) WMBD.
Tell me again why I should pay to see this content.
First line of an article posted on the Journal Star Facebook page, less than an hour ago:cjsummers wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:05 pmThey clearly have work to do to build subscriber loyalty. But this is a step in the right direction. Giving away content for free is a big disincentive for subscribers. Maybe they'll step up their investigative reporting now? Granted, past performance would indicate otherwise, but maybe the new editor will make a difference.Toldyouso wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:55 am Today’s paper had a “subscriber’s only” article about the expansion of Dac’s Smokehouse. I’m sure it’s a great article. I’m not a subscriber, so I can’t read it. However, this news broke over a week ago on (free tv channel) WMBD.
Tell me again why I should pay to see this content.
“A Chillicothe man died of cold exposure after he fallen at his property along the Illinois River.“
Oh, I like Andy, too. He’s a good writer. But, this article had an error that a copy editor would have caught. I also like Phil’s writing. But, his article today on Nailon Plumbing has several errors. In one case, half of a sentence seems to have disappeared. If you’re going to charge for a product, it needs to be better than the similar product you can get for free. So, I’ll wait until the Journal Star has a copy editor again before becoming a subscriber.
Firing their copy editor was the last straw for me. I was a long-time subscriber (print edition). When they did that, several years ago, I stopped paying for it.
I don’t know if they ever reversed that decision. But considering the number of typos, I doubt it.
@cjsummers courtesy of WEEK, more than 2 years ago:
Peoria Journal Star lays off several journalists
September 7, 2018
12:11 pm
adwpadmin
NEWS, PEORIA NEWS, TOP STORIES
The Peoria Journal Star is cutting several newsroom veterans.
Phil Luciano, a columnist with the Journal Star, said reporters Chris Kaergard, Thomas Bruch and Aaron Ferguson were terminated today. Copy editor Shannon Countryman was also laid off. A fifth employee, copy editor and page designer Wes Huett, will be laid off on September 21.
The layoffs comes after Sports Editor Kirk Wessler accepted a buyout offer. Veteran reporter Pam Adams, editorial page editor Mike Bailey and assistant city editor Brad Erickson also recently left the paper.
Luciano said the Peoria Newspaper Guild, the union representing editorial employees at the Peoria Journal Star, "tried to find reasonable alternatives and compromises," including transitioning the employees to other work. However, Luciano claimed the union was told five employees must go.
"Not only do these cuts decimate our ability to cover and report local news, but we do so now (among a great many other losses in recent times) with no sports editor, city editor or opinions editor — and this at the largest newspaper in downstate Illinois," said Luciano. "There was no need for these terminations, except to increase the bottom line of a corporation already solidly in the black. This is a dark day not just for the Journal Star and our Guild, but for anyone who cares about communities, public discourse, and justice."
Peoria Journal Star lays off several journalists
September 7, 2018
12:11 pm
adwpadmin
NEWS, PEORIA NEWS, TOP STORIES
The Peoria Journal Star is cutting several newsroom veterans.
Phil Luciano, a columnist with the Journal Star, said reporters Chris Kaergard, Thomas Bruch and Aaron Ferguson were terminated today. Copy editor Shannon Countryman was also laid off. A fifth employee, copy editor and page designer Wes Huett, will be laid off on September 21.
The layoffs comes after Sports Editor Kirk Wessler accepted a buyout offer. Veteran reporter Pam Adams, editorial page editor Mike Bailey and assistant city editor Brad Erickson also recently left the paper.
Luciano said the Peoria Newspaper Guild, the union representing editorial employees at the Peoria Journal Star, "tried to find reasonable alternatives and compromises," including transitioning the employees to other work. However, Luciano claimed the union was told five employees must go.
"Not only do these cuts decimate our ability to cover and report local news, but we do so now (among a great many other losses in recent times) with no sports editor, city editor or opinions editor — and this at the largest newspaper in downstate Illinois," said Luciano. "There was no need for these terminations, except to increase the bottom line of a corporation already solidly in the black. This is a dark day not just for the Journal Star and our Guild, but for anyone who cares about communities, public discourse, and justice."