Free Newspapers

When the news papers are gone what will the dog will pee on and what are we going to light the bbq with?

It seems that our local Dompost are getting creative in their bid to increase subscribers. Free news papers for three weeks, delivered to the door every morning with a letter offering the service of long term subscription. The letter has the usual contact details phone, fax, physical address but no email or website address. It seems that they still don't get it. Still trying to preserve the status quo. Hide the web and control the news.

The puppy dog sale
- an old story that has its merits
A couple take their children to a pet shop and are viewing the cute puppies for sale, the shop owner notices they're interested in the puppies and suggests they take one home for the weekend with no obligation to buy. Try it for free and bring it back if it doesn't work out he says. Do you think those kids are going to let Mum and Dad take the puppy back? If they walk out with that dog they're very likely to buy later.

Free news paper for three weeks could be viewed as a puppy dog sale - a desperate move, a sign that they haven't yet read the news - The news is the important part of News Paper, not the paper.

If I were our local paper I'd be leveraging my current ability to reach masses. I'd invite my readers to contribute to the massive change at hand and tell me what to do - give choice and control. I'd use the Internet to connect the people with their news and I certainly wouldn't be hiding my website address.