This seems less like a showdown between equals than a clever move by a startup company. This is not to say that the Civil Beat should be expected to match the Star-Advertiser’s footprint, or even to blame the Civil Beat’s approach of challenging the only newspaper around. They are not being disingenuous. The numbers just don’t yet match the rhetoric, and reporters should keep that in mind when covering the story and others like it.
The Civil Beat says its subscription numbers have risen since the 50 percent off promotion began, but it wouldn’t say by how many. It looks like positioning yourself against an established media organization, especially the biggest one in town, can be a powerful way to market yourself to readers. Fans—and media watchers—love the underdog.
So wait, if you want to subscribe to Star-Advertiser digitally, you have to pay more if you're local? That sounds kind of backwards to me; is that normal? Shouldn't local communities catch a break when it comes to what's going on in their own communities, courthouses, and school systems?
#1 Posted by Aaron B., CJR on Thu 8 Sep 2011 at 04:18 PM