[Ang]

There is a way to prevent people from copying and pasting web stories. Snopes.com is set up that way. I don't know how it's done, but you can only repost a link to the page you are viewing, you can't repost the content of the page.

Maybe someone at the N-D should contact Barb Mikkelson (the webmaster for Snopes.com) and ask her how she did that? It would put a little damper on our site as far as reposting news items, but then we can always post the link and summarize the content.

[mcstumper]

There is a way to prevent people from copying and pasting web stories. Snopes.com is set up that way. I don't know how it's done, but you can only repost a link to the page you are viewing, you can't repost the content of the page.

Maybe someone at the N-D should contact Barb Mikkelson (the webmaster for Snopes.com) and ask her how she did that? It would put a little damper on our site as far as reposting news items, but then we can always post the link and summarize the content.

True, but with most things it can be easily circumvented...

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/3689/how-to...from-snopescom/

[Agent99]

There is a way to prevent people from copying and pasting web stories. Snopes.com is set up that way. I don't know how it's done, but you can only repost a link to the page you are viewing, you can't repost the content of the page.

Maybe someone at the N-D should contact Barb Mikkelson (the webmaster for Snopes.com) and ask her how she did that? It would put a little damper on our site as far as reposting news items, but then we can always post the link and summarize the content.

There's actually a fairly simple java script that can be used to disable the copy/paste. I use it on parts of my own website. They should ask their website provider about this... though I wonder how much creative control their provider gives them.....
IMHO, more online papers should consider that and/or subscriptions. I'm not sure how a business can continue to exist when they give their products away for free.

[southsiderMMX]

There's actually a fairly simple java script that can be used to disable the copy/paste. I use it on parts of my own website. They should ask their website provider about this... though I wonder how much creative control their provider gives them.....
IMHO, more online papers should consider that and/or subscriptions. I'm not sure how a business can continue to exist when they give their products away for free.

It is a very common thing if you think about. Like I said earlier, professional sports are the biggest example. You can never set foot into a professional sports arena, and know everything there is to know about your favorite franchise.

[5thGen]

I don't post much, however I lurk quite a bit. I live in MC, but do not subscribe to the N-D. Rather I read the Chicago Tribune. I get much more timely info and for significantly less than the N-D. It costs too much to subscribe and I can skim these pages here at CBTL and get the lowdown on what really matters. And get good community feedback (rather than the garbage posted in the comment sections of the two local online editions).

I think a 1 or 2 pm online edition would be smarter. You would still get people looking at it at work, discussing the news of the day before they go home, so more eyes on it. After people are home for the day and busy with their family life, by the time they get back to the online edition it is obsolete. Why bother posting the news online at all.

[Tom Burns]

While we can and do broadcast news as it develops through the day and often into the night, radio is not a medium of record, a print copy for future use.
That is the value of City by the Lake, in that it is a permanent record and that partially solves the lack of print coverage in the community.

The other problem is that although we cover most local news at the scene, we can't be everywhere. As a result some events are not being covered by any of the traditional media to the extent that it would be if there were a newspaper with more staff.

[NDReporter]

I don't post much, however I lurk quite a bit. I live in MC, but do not subscribe to the N-D. Rather I read the Chicago Tribune. I get much more timely info and for significantly less than the N-D. It costs too much to subscribe and I can skim these pages here at CBTL and get the lowdown on what really matters. And get good community feedback (rather than the garbage posted in the comment sections of the two local online editions).

I think a 1 or 2 pm online edition would be smarter. You would still get people looking at it at work, discussing the news of the day before they go home, so more eyes on it. After people are home for the day and busy with their family life, by the time they get back to the online edition it is obsolete. Why bother posting the news online at all.

Information doesn't just appear out of thin air. Someone (like me) needs to be paid to get it to you.

First of all, the Chicago Tribune is a different product than the N-D altogether, as it brings you news from Chicago, the nation and the world. OUR job is to bring you local news along with a mix of nation and world news. You don't and won't get that from the Tribune, or most of the time even from the Post-Tribune or the NWI Times.

For $16.80, you can have the N-D delivered to your home for four weeks. That's 60 cents a day. What other product can you have brought to your home for less? Granted, the Chicago Tribune $5 less for four weeks, which is about 40 cents a day, but their operations are much larger and sophisticated, and they continue to slash prices to try to raise circulation. I feel our price is reasonable for the product we are able to deliver.

If you don't like the "garbage" people post in the comments, why don't you challenge those people or leave your own comments? I would if I were allowed to respond to some of the comments that are left, but I'm not, so I can't. It's up to people like you to fight the tide of ignorance/stupidity that you see. You can't let them dominate the public conversation and depend on CBTL to provide you "good community feedback." CBTL is not the whole community.

I would hate to think that people who really care about this city would simply feel they don't need to support the people who collect the information they discuss by buying the newspaper. The quality of the paper has fallen as circulation revenues have fallen from people who stopped subscribing because they can get the information for free online. Without your support, it's very realistic you may not have a local paper. While the N-D has its flaws, and some of your gripes are valid concerns, there are reporters like me who are trying to bring you useful information. I hope you would support us in that effort.

[lighter]

While South Bend Trib, nwi.com and now post-trib go 24/7 on the webs, the ND goes backwards. So, when breaking news happens in Michigan City, the ND subscribers are going to go to those other sources to figure out what is going on. And that means you might as well raise the white flag -- you'll be extinct in a few years at this rate. Just become a weekly with a few local stories and a lot more cheap advertising.

A point I've heard ... more people now more than ever are actually READING news. So cater to them, don't avoid them.

The executive editor seemed annoyed that people were sharing passwords/account info... so does that mean one newspaper per person? Does that make sense? Are you going to tell subscribers it'll cost $xx for one person, and five-times that amount for a family of five? No. Of course not. I mean, I guess he could go swipe all the "free" news passed around at McDonalds/Burger King/name your establishment during the morning rush. How is that really any different? At least posting news online gets you a few clicks at your unique internet address.

There are still good people at The News-Dispatch trying to make it work. Unfortuately, there are a few in command who think they're steering a bike in the Tour de France instead of a ship in the ocean. They're changing direction every few hundred feet, annoying some and making others sea sick. My sincere hope is the papers are sold off one day to a company that gets it, the bad managment is cast aside and the paper becomes one of quality again. Not that NDreporter, Parkhouse and several others aren't doing the job ... they just have a few "leaders" who seem to not have a clue in terms of journalism and business sense.

[Ang]

I support you Alicia! And Adam, too!

Personally, I don't buy the N-D or the H-A because, as time goes by, the paper gets smaller and smaller while the price gets bigger and bigger. I used to, though.

I used to have it delivered to my home for years and years. I read it cover to cover faithfully each and every day, but as time went on, I noticed a decline in quality and quantity. When I moved to WY, I cancelled the subscription (of course), and the first time I came back on vacation, I stopped to buy a paper and noticed how small it seemed to be. Not in thickness, but over all size of the paper itself.

Since I've been back, I've not purchased a print edition of either paper. I just can't justify spending .60 cents on so little paper. I rarely read the online edition either. I get most of my local news from here, and only look at the online paper when SS'der is out and I need to update the board.

Bummer, I know. But Adam and Alicia are excellent journalists and I thoroughly enjoy reading what they write!

[MC Born & Raised]

I always find the cost complaint to be interesting. Our paper costs 75 cents, granted it used to be 50 cents, but it's 75 cents now. Many people spend up to seven times that on a pack of smokes or even 33 percent more on a Redbox movie or twice that for some gum. 75 cents a day (or 60 cents delivered to your home daily) to be kept abreast of the goings on in the community and world in which you live. I'm a biased observer, of course, but that seems like a good deal to me.

I always find gripes about the post office to be of similar confusion. "44 cents (or whatever it is these days) to mail a letter! Absurd!" But think of what happens for that amount of change, which can usually be found under your couch cushions. Someone takes a letter from you and — if you so desire — will take it thousands of miles away and place it someone else's mailbox. That's one of the best deals of all-time! LOL

Sorry, Ang, that wasn't necessarily directed at you, but the cost is a common complaint I've never fully understood. :-)

[Ang]

No offense taken. My problem is not really the fact that it's .75 cents to buy a paper off the newstand, or .60 cents delivered to my home. My problem is what I get for that amount of money.

For one, the paper is smaller, and the quantity is less. I've seen that paper be 5 pages in section A and 7 pages in section B--only because Adam took up a bunch of space writing about the Wolves--and no other sections to the paper. The paper is at least 2 inches narrower than the paper used to be and I'm sure that much or more shorter.

I know there is more news in Michigan City and LaPorte County than that. I know that a lot more could be covered and written about. Even if it's "Miss Mable, over on 1000N, her cow won a prize for having the best 'oreo' look to it,"--- there is more local news to talk about than what's being reported in either paper.

I know you journalists are doing the best you can. I know you're working hard to make the paper the best it can be. Alicia I can't really vouch for, but I've seen Adam in action, and I know it's not a matter of just sitting at the keyboard thinking about things to write about.

I think I can pretty much speak for everyone at CBTL (and please correct me if you disagree) that it is not the journalists who are the causing the demise of our paper--it is the so-called "management", and it is not the journalists we criticize (Well, with the exception of DS, who can't tell the difference between a complex sentence and a run-on sentence) when we nag about the paper--it's "management."

[taxthedeer]

I always felt that Michigan City should consider it a blessing to have not only a local daily newspaper but also two local broadcast radio stations, it's amazing that so many Michigan City based media outlets exist and are able to sustain themselves in such a small demographic.

Growing up in the nearby city of Portage, there was only a local weekly subscription/supermarket newsstand paper called the Portage Journal Press in fact, I think it folded a few years after I moved here in 1993, we also used to receive a local advertising supplement that came free in the mail called "The Scanner" (it was very similar to the former La Porte "Town Crier") .

Portage has never had any local broadcast radio stations either, I always thought that was pretty bad considering that the city of Portage has the third largest population in Northwest Indiana next to Gary and Hammond. They always told me that it's because Portage didn't begin grow until the Toll Road and Expressway were built in the late '50s and finally become incorporated as a city in 1969, by then all the surrounding communities had already been well established.

...and I am Len O'Conner...

[lighter]

A little research led to this, the herald-argus.com has lost 33 percent of its readers, while the southbendtribune and nwitimes have both gained or held-steady.

The news-dispatch has lost about 25 percent.

http://siteanalytics.compete.com/southbend...eraldargus.com/

It's neat to look up site v. site. I compared a handful and think what I noticed is the sites updating more often are gaining (chicagobreakingnews, nwitimes, journalgazette, suntimes) and those that have not updated more often are falling behind.

The Indy Star started having "newspaper-paper only" stories that you can't get online -- and their viewers have left. And I doubt they are picking up the paper for one story, they are just feeling snubbed.

Here's some free advise. Either do the internet right, or simply don't do it at all.

[Tom Burns]

"A little research led to this, the herald-argus.com has lost 33 percent of its readers, while the southbendtribune and nwitimes have both gained or held-steady."

"The news-dispatch has lost about 25 percent."

This closely matches the decline in print edition circulation of each publication: from fall/winter 2005 to fall/winter 2010 according to the figures the publications certified to the Audit Bureau of Circulation:
HA down 34.2%, ND down 26.2%.

Current daily circulation of HA is 7954, ND is 8117. All this data is through the winter season 2009/2010.

[Tim]

I have to say that the online edition of the ND is far more up to date now than it's been since I've been reading it. Being on the other side of the world the time of the update doesn't bother me.

So kudos to the News Dispatch!

[southsiderMMX]

A little research led to this, the herald-argus.com has lost 33 percent of its readers, while the southbendtribune and nwitimes have both gained or held-steady.

The news-dispatch has lost about 25 percent.

http://siteanalytics.compete.com/southbend...eraldargus.com/

It's neat to look up site v. site. I compared a handful and think what I noticed is the sites updating more often are gaining (chicagobreakingnews, nwitimes, journalgazette, suntimes) and those that have not updated more often are falling behind.

The Indy Star started having "newspaper-paper only" stories that you can't get online -- and their viewers have left. And I doubt they are picking up the paper for one story, they are just feeling snubbed.

Here's some free advise. Either do the internet right, or simply don't do it at all.

And if people wonder about my points on how effective the web campaign of the News Dispatch has been, all you have to do is look at these numbers. I can say on record that my numbers have gone up significantly since 2006, without including anything to do with things like Twitter and Facebook. Paxton has been a complete failure at giving the local writers the tools they need to be effective 21st century journalists, which is why the self-fulling prophecy about the newspaper going downhill is happening. Do the right thing and embrace the web, instead of treating it like Bill Wirtz and television.

[taxthedeer]

Current daily circulation of HA is 7954, ND is 8117. All this data is through the winter season 2009/2010.

I predict that the demise of the Michigan City News-Dispatch and the La Porte Herald-Argus is imminent, be prepared for a merger between these to publications to be called the "La Porte County News Dispatch":

http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/14/865/2198

La Porte County News Dispatch

La Porte County News Dispatch is a daily newspaper in Michigan City, Indiana, USA covering local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events.

The newspaper is published seven days a week.

Circulation: 11,200 copies

This newspaper is owned by Paxton Media Group, LLC.

Contact Information
David Hawk is the managing editor of the La Porte County News Dispatch.
For La Porte County News Dispatch contact information, become a Mondo Times Advanced or Professional Member. If you are a member, log in now.

http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/14/859/2191

LaPorte Herald-Argus

LaPorte Herald-Argus is a daily newspaper in LaPorte, Indiana, USA covering local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events.

The newspaper is published six days a week - Monday through Saturday.

It is one of the worst American media outlets, according to Mondo Times members.

Circulation: 11,700 copies

This newspaper is owned by Paxton Media Group, LLC

Contact Information
Chris Schable is the executive editor of the LaPorte Herald-Argus.
For LaPorte Herald-Argus contact information, become a Mondo Times Advanced or Professional Member. If you are a member, log in now.

[southsiderMMX]

I predict that the demise of the Michigan City News-Dispatch and the La Porte Herald-Argus is imminent, be prepared for a merger between these to publications to be called the "La Porte County News Dispatch":

I don't know if I have said it on here, but I have said it on the radio, and on the CBTL facebook page... I believe the merging of the two papers in favor of a county newspaper is just a matter of time. My prediction was that as soon as the ND building gets sold downtown is when it happens. It makes sense to move everyone into the same office at that point, and if you are in the same office, just go ahead and quit the pretenses of news sharing between the two papers, and do what needs to be done to ensure a paper here.

[Tom Burns]

With the technology of a few years ago that would have been realistic. However it is so easy now to change a masthead and rearrange a few stories in the layout of a page, that there is no eonomy in combining. The Shaw papers in northwest Illinois in similar close markets change the masthead on page one and usually reshuffle the sports page slightly, often only a change in masthead there, too. The other 12 to 22 pages are identical. All comes out of a single building.

[lighter]

Seems the editors at N-dispatch r eatin a little crow. They r now posting "breaking news." ie, the drowings.

its a good thing to have them do, but isnt it a more evidcene of the exetucives there having lil idea what they're doing?