Comments on: Journalism Online Says Letters Of Intent Now Cover More 1,000 Media Outlets; Does it Matter?

By: Cynthia Typaldos

Cynthia Typaldos — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:50:10 +0000

Just as paywalls are the last centuries attempt to control digital content, LOIs are the last century's phony PR tool. This century's LOI is a customer publicly saying it is experimenting NOT the product producer claiming a secret handshake.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:28:26 +0000

no argument from me on that point.

i'm not against anyone and everyone putting up a paywall in any form they want.

i've said elsewhere that what we have here is more like publishers threatening to jump from a building though… the crowd gathered below is saying "get it over with already, you're holding up traffic!"

By: Staci D. Kramer

Staci D. Kramer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:54:19 +0000

@steve It may all depend on how you define interest — in talking, in looking or in taking actual steps. That's why the actual number trying a beta matters more than the number of letters signed.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:50:47 +0000

worth considering that alan mutter (who also presented to publishers in chicago way back when) has said his effort is "dormant due to lack of interest".

it kinda makes you wonder how things are so 180 for brill until you look back at the launch of his now defunct 'clear' airport security clearance idea.

pretty much the same m.o.