Dow Jones Exec Tries To Get Other Publications To Lock Up Content

Predictions

from the yeah,-that'll-work dept

As more and more people are noticing that the Wall Street Journal is becoming less relevant in important discussions — mainly because of their decision to lock up content behind a pay wall — Journal owner Dow Jones is apparently trying to push other publications to make the same mistake. The company’s president of electronic publishing has announced that other publications should put up a pay wall just as many are discovering the power of online advertising and the ability to get more traffic by being as free and accessible as possible. He claims “it would be good for the industry,” if more publications charged — but he really means it would be good for the WSJ, because there would be less free content competing with his content. He also claims that “publishers in all mediums have tended to devalue their brands,” which is missing the point (by a wide margin). If anyone has “devalued” their brand, it’s the Wall Street Journal, by taking itself out of the discussion. People don’t just consume the news any more, they are a part of the process, and that includes the ability to help spread the news. The Wall Street Journal doesn’t seem to realize that the times have changed — which is too bad for a publication that claims to be so good at spotting important trends.