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February 09, 2009

The Headline Reads

Newsweek Plans Makeover to Fit a Smaller Audience
I've got a suggestion! How 'bout a Newsweek cover (for the first time in what seems like six months) that DOESN'T have Obama's mug on it? The WOULD be a refreshing change! Like, schmaybe, NEWSweek had finally moved on to NEWS vice IDOL WORSHIP. They've come completely unhinged and it's disturbing in the extreme. HOW extreme?

Put bug-eyed Nance hugging Harry the Cadaver on it and I WOULDN'T CARE.

...In the first half of 2008, the average Newsweek subscriber paid less than $25 a year, or 47 cents for each copy — less than one-tenth the $4.95 newsstand price. Newsweek wants to raise that average to $50 a year, Mr. Ascheim said, adding, “If you can’t get people to pay for what they love, we’re all out of business.”
FIFTY BUCKS??

Wave bye-bye, Mr. A$$cheim.

Posted by tree hugging sister at February 9, 2009 08:32 AM

Comments

Well, at the very least, they'll find out how many people don't love them.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 9, 2009 01:44 PM

Wait, let me get this right:

their market share is shrinking...so they are going to raise the price.

Yeah, that'll work.

(Actually, that seems a typical Lefty tendency: "People WILL pay more for stuff they love" - vide NPR, PBS, all of the pols who claim the rich should be "soaked"....)

Posted by: ricki at February 9, 2009 02:38 PM

Dear Mr. Ascheim:

I can purchase higher quality toilet paper at a far lower cost-per-sheet just about anywhere in this great nation of ours.

Just so you know.

Sincerely,

Posted by: JeffS at February 9, 2009 03:16 PM

Don't toy with him, Jeff ~ you weren't gonna subscribe no how anyhoo...{8^P

Posted by: tree hugging sister at February 9, 2009 03:26 PM

"Mr. Ascheim said, adding, “If you can’t get people to pay for what they love,"

Reminds me of the naive woman who thinks a one night stand translates to "we're getting married in six months".

Posted by: Gunslinger at February 9, 2009 04:50 PM

True, Sis, true. And, if I gets the urge, I can always borrow a copy from any medical waiting room............................

Posted by: JeffS at February 9, 2009 05:43 PM

Gone are the days of, "You gonna buy that, son? Or are ya just gonna stand there and read it?" I've worked in a bookstore for two whole months now. . . I'd estimate about 2/3 or so of what we "reshelve" is magazines. Especially in the kids' department because parents need something to read while they sip their coffee and the kids play at the train table.

Also, one of my co-workers commented that Rolling Stone looked smaller. Haven't had the chance to verify that one myself yet.

Posted by: Kate P at February 9, 2009 08:56 PM

Forget this whole voluntary "subscription" model: Newsweek should just go to Uncle Sam for a bailout. That way, we ALL can pay for it, even if we never read it.

Posted by: Dave J at February 10, 2009 11:01 PM