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Long Island-centric newspaper and website Newsday– which became one of the first sites of its type to instate a paywall back in 2010- may actually be reaping benefits from its paying customers only web strategy after all.
When the site began charging non-Optimum customers for access over a year ago, not even the New York Times had waded into the paid content pool yet. Newsday’s strategy was a bit more draconian, offering up no articles to non-paying users, unlike the Times’ comped 20 a month before their paywall kicks in. It was reported in October that year that aside from Optimum subscribers, Newsday had snagged a total of 35 paying customers, which seemed to confirm that the strategy may not be impressing web customers all that much.
However, the company announced earlier this week in a memo that they planned to take on 25 new staff members as well as add new digital features. The memo read in part:
First, Newsday is expanding! Building on the success of its online and mobile products, Newsday will launch new digital products — web as well as iPhone, iPad and Android apps – specifically for Westchester County beginning early next year. Comprehensive, compelling hyper-local news, sports, opinion, things-to-do and entertainment coverage will serve the Westchester community… Under Debby Krenek’s leadership of Cablevision’s Local Media Digital Group, Diane Goldie will serve as Editor of these new digital products and will hire approximately 25 new editors, reporters and digital content specialists.
The memo also made reference to a closer working relationship with amNewYork, but added that “to be clear, Newsday is not returning to New York City.”
