The Erie Times-News has launched a new twist on the unethical practice of what has come to be known as "pocketbook journalism" with a long-delayed return to public comment on its online local news content which requires readers who wish to comment to pay $3 per month to the Times-News for the "privilege."
Appended to an article today boasting that Gannon University has joined its all-out campaign in support of County Executive Barry Grossman's misguided and controversial proposal for an Erie County community college, is a an advertisement urging readers of its online edition known as GoErie.com to shell out $2.99 (plus sales tax) for the "opportunity" to comment on selected local news stories. It apparently does not apply to editorials and non-local articles or columns.Here's the complete text of the advertisement:
Thank you for your interest in this article. You can join the conversation about this topic by becoming a member of GoErie.com Insider for $2.99 per month. That's less than 10 cents a day!
Your membership includes writing and reading comments on latest local stories like this one you just read. You will also be able to opt-in for new membership features as they become available.
Sign up below using Press+, an online subscription service for news websites.
Thank you for your interest in this article. You can join the conversation about this topic by becoming a member of GoErie.com Insider for $2.99 per month. That's less than 10 cents a day!
Your membership includes writing and reading comments on latest local stories like this one you just read. You will also be able to opt-in for new membership features as they become available.
Sign up below using Press+, an online subscription service for news websites.
The Times-News is the only newspaper in the country which has adopted this spurious practice, underlining its negative contribution to legitimate journalism in the United States, indeed the world.
Friday, October 1, 2010
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