Definitely a bad idea and another nail in the coffin of the traditional newspaper industry. Newspaper publishers need to understand that this “revenue slide” is not a temporary downturn due to the economic cycle. It really is the end of a business model that relies on trees, chemicals and physical transportation to deliver information that you can get more efficiently online.

This desperate measure will only serve to alienate their most loyal readers, those keeping an outdated business model on life support. Their article justifying the measure is particularly painful to read and almost as bad as the decision itself.

Best,
Mario