01-28-2018, 03:29 AM
(01-28-2018, 03:05 AM)cookiemech_imp Wrote: No, I wouldn't pay a nickel for that. The journalists are usually beholden in some way to manufacturers and so I don't trust them to be objective; moreover, generally they have some slant in their writing (for example, they really only like sport bikes or Harleys).
I'd much rather get the opinions of people on a forum like this, who tend to be self-selected in their tastes (so pretty much everyone on this site likes CB1100s). And they're not doing it for the money . . .
Sure, but would you be willing to pay to read this content? (Don't worry, I'm not planning on charging for memberships as I'd much rather be able to call the shots around here and not have to answer to anyone but myself, lol.) I'm fortunate that I'm able to do something like this just for fun. But if I had to make a living off of running internet forums then I wouldn't be happy at all.
As far as Capo's question is concerned. I'm not sure that I would pay for just a single article, but I could see myself purchasing a bundle of content like a package that consists of a few bike reviews, or a combination of articles. Ultimately, if the single articles or reviews were enticing enough then maybe I would even pay for those in a piecemeal fashion. Ultimately I prefer printed magazines, but I don't currently subscribe to any. I tried to subscribe to Moto Retro Illustrated, but Mitch Boehm just couldn't make a go of it. I do still visit the newsstand every once in a while and pick up an odd assortment of magazines with content that appeals to me (I too love the British bike mags that include a lot of articles about working on your own bikes.) As printed publications are phased out then I'll become more receptive to the digital content but I'm certainly not an early adopter in this case.
A lot of people are going to be upset when they have to start paying for digital content, but if they act shocked I'll have little sympathy for them. As printed media continues to taper off then so too will free digital content. This is going to be hard for some people no doubt, but it is the way of the future. No doubt many people will complain, but younger generations are already in sync with this. Just look at the way music is consumed these days.
Moving forward, I'm sure that many publications will struggle to find a model that works for them and I don't envy them trying to figure this out. They need to keep as many people as happy as possible, both those that they have to pay (writers, designers, editors, etc.) and those that they need to obtain money from (subscribers, advertisers) to help take care of those they have to pay. I don't envy those folks who have to deal with this new balancing act transitioning from printed media to digital media, but I do wish them well.
One more thought regarding Capo's question. I do like the thought of being able to buy piecemeal content by those writers whose work I enjoy without having to purchase the articles written by those that I don't enjoy. The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. For example I would have liked having the opportunity in days gone by of being able to buy Peter Egan's articles while passing on those written by John Burns. There are probably others whose buying habits would be just the opposite of mine. Another cool option for digital subscribers would be if they could vote on which writers would cover certain bike review or events in advance of the work being done. Now that would have my attention.