This story originally appeared on RealTime/STL.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch announced Monday that it would put some content behind a pay wall. It’s all rather confusing — the daily paper insists that “normal” content is still free, and that only “new” content will require a subscription. It’s really put the ol’ Weatherbird on the defensive today.
stlEXTRA! does not "block" our normal content with a "paywall." It features NEW content to subscribers: http://t.co/lVH1UbDIXA
— Weatherbird (@Weatherbird) April 28, 2014
There’s some debate, even among Post-Dispatch employees, on what to call this change.
@PDPJ @ChristopherAve @stevegiegerich @stltoday It's not a paywall – (said in my Arnold Schwarzenegger, "It's not a tumah" voice)
— Mike Meiners (@mmeiners) April 28, 2014
But since some content only will be accessible by paying for it, we’re sticking with pay wall. With that said and done, here are 8 reactions to the news:
I feel like @stltoday would raise more money if they charged people to comment on their articles.
— Meg (@meghoulihan) April 28, 2014
Congrats to @stltoday for going paywall for some of its content. What is this, 2011?
— Allen Vaughan (@AllenVaughanNL) April 28, 2014
@Weatherbird i full well know a move towards prem necessary; surprised @ price. amt of pop-ups, video, ads on site making it cumbersome.
— Patrick Reynolds (@preynolds76) April 28, 2014
@Weatherbird @boxcar_fritz @Briligerent @miklasz Insider coverage for sports is the smartest area to monetize. I support this.
— Justin Striebel (@jstriebel22) April 28, 2014
…or just use this: https://t.co/YboXYy3gzm “@PTtheIslander: @Weatherbird @mikeflynn_ $13.50/month is crazy”
— Mike Flynn (@mikeflynn_) April 28, 2014
@Weatherbird called. we're in. turns out the activate link in the editor's note, which goes to a Lee dev template server, is the wrong one.
— Staci D Kramer (@sdkstl) April 28, 2014
@Weatherbird Spin it however you want. I love reading @miklasz columns, but when I try to read one and get propositioned for cash, I'm out.
— Andy Unnerstall (@andyunnerstall) April 28, 2014
Jobs I don't want today: Anyone tasked with explaining the P-D maybe-paywall. #forthebirds
— Kara Bowlin (@karabowlin) April 28, 2014