The Decade that "Was" is now the decade that Matters: Sulzberger and 17 Million Cyberfans Lead the Way to Better Content

In my blog of January 12th of this new decade, I paid my accolades to the New York Times (NYT) and its publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. for the courage to beef up his staff of online blog moderators in the face of the failing economy that has been so brutal to newsprint revenue.

Now, last Thursday, January 21st, the NYT announced a blockbuster stratagem that has been pioneered and engineered by the Financial Times and endorsed wholeheartedly by Rupert Murdoch in an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal: Prized Content comes with a Price

Beginning in January 2011, the Times will allow a certain number of free articles each month on its website. To view more, the reader will be asked to pay a fee for unlimited access. Occasional online readers are shielded from costs, while the more loyal, voracious online readers will pay some freight.

This is a welcome event: The New York Times' excellent local, national and worldwide coverage is matched by the fact this New Olde Grey Lady-in her new garb of NYTimes.com - attracts more monthly visitors than any other newspaper in the country: 17 Million monthly readers.

17M of us cannot be wrong!

Here's to the next decade, Mr. Sulzberger! Print will continue to thrive thanks to your courage and burning desire to thrive!