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The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.

Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

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  • Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

    $12 per month to gain access online beyond 20 free stories per month. I thought everyone knew this, but I guess not. Are you going to pay it. I understand why they are doing this, but $12 per month seems a little steep to me - $144 per year seems too much. Although people paid for years and years (and still do) to have the print edition delivered to your house - not sure there is a difference.

    A price of between 20 and 35 per year is what I think it should be. (Should be interesting to see what happens) Wonder how sites like WTHR.com, WISHTV.com, WRTV.com and WXIN.com are going to try and capitallize on this

    http://www.indystar.com/article/2012...ss-model-times

    Indianapolis Star updates business model for the times

    Since 1903, The Indianapolis Star has served Central Indiana with news and information. We've worked hard to keep a trust with you for nearly 110 years, even as a lot changed in that time.

    A hundred years ago in Downtown Indy, people didn't just talk about mass transit -- they rode it. A fleet of more than 300 electric streetcars crisscrossed the city. We've seen construction of Indy's first skyscrapers, the launch and expansion of the convention center and the construction of Circle Centre mall. The once-new Market Square Arena and RCA Dome gave way to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium. We're home to new museums, the zoo, Victory Field, the NCAA headquarters and now the nation's second-largest medical school on the site where IUPUI was born.

    How we communicate also has evolved, of course. We've moved from telegraph to telephones, to radio, to television and now into the digital age.

    Certainly, one of the more dramatic changes is how you and other Central Indiana residents get your news and information. It wasn't too long ago that the printed edition of The Star was the only option we provided to you. Today, you engage with us on your desktop, on your smartphone and on your tablet. In Central Indiana alone, more than 210,000 residents engage with The Star each week on a digital platform. Even more telling, 89,000 Central Indiana residents look at our news and information only on our digital platforms each week.

    And although many consumers choose to use digital devices to access our content, many still prefer the traditional print edition. In a typical week, more than 650,000 residents read a print edition of The Star. It's easy, though, to see where consumers are headed.

    After a century of doing business in about the same way, it's time for us to transform The Star's business model. These changes will include a new Full Access subscription plan that reflects the value of our content and ensures our ability to grow and serve you better. We are not unlike thousands of businesses that have needed to rethink their business model to keep ahead of changing needs of consumers.

    In the past year, we have met with many readers and conducted numerous research studies. We listened hard to what you want and need from us. No "one size fits all" was apparent, but what was obvious was the need to provide multiple options for you to access our content how, when and where you want it. And you told us that we must focus on (and invest in) the issues that you most care about. We will.

    Here are a few key highlights of our new business model:Beyond the headlines

    Our primary goal is to provide high-quality, in-depth journalism on topics you are passionate about. Great investigative reporting and public service rank high on that list. The Star's Our Children Our City project takes you inside the halls and classrooms of struggling schools and into the lives of children, shining a light on the troubling issues they confront and inspiring you to become involved. Our StarWatch investigative team brings you hard-hitting stories you can't get anywhere else -- exposing corruption, injustice and incompetent government agencies that waste your tax dollars.

    In sports, we take you beyond the games, bringing you closer to your favorite players and providing you with more angles on the Colts than any other source. We offer behind-the-scenes details, engaging humor, expert analysis and clever ways to save time and money. We have strong personalities and provocative columnists whose takes on life may delight you or rile you -- but always make you think. And we have great storytelling. All of this is part of our daily effort to improve your Star -- an effort that will now intensify as we devote greater resources to providing you with even more and better coverage.
    Multiple ways to connect with us

    All subscribers will have full access 24/7 through all of our platforms:

    » Print edition, delivered to your home.

    » e-Newspaper, replica of the print edition.

    » Desktop, on your computer.

    » Mobile, iPhone, Androidsmartphone.

    » iPad and other tablets.

    Full Access digital-only subscriptions are available for $12 a month, only 40 cents a day. Beginning Sept. 1, we will limit access to news and information content consumed through our website, smartphones and tablets. Nonsubscribers still will be able to read up to 20 stories per 30 days on IndyStar.com before needing to subscribe.
    New subscription rates

    We are committed to continuing to provide you with in-depth stories and compelling journalism in timely and meaningful ways. To be able to deliver on that commitment, we are raising some of our subscription prices. In August, you will get a letter from me outlining the specific changes to your subscription. The new rates are effective Sept. 1, but we will honor your current rate until your next billing cycle. We have not made this decision lightly. A Full Access subscription, including home delivery of the print edition each day, will be a great value at only 76 cents a day.

    Finally, there is one more part of our transformation that I want to explain. You may have heard or read recently that we have decided, after 104 years, to put our Downtown building on Pennsylvania Street up for sale. It has been a wonderful part of our history. But the Penn building no longer suits the size and needs of our staff. We need space that inspires us to be creative and digitally focused as we continue to pursue great journalism that makes an impact and is a positive force on our community. We are committed that Star employees will relocate to a new location Downtown still to be determined. We hope to find space that inspires our future and welcome you to be a partner in the conversation.

    All of our changes are meant to ensure we serve Central Indiana for a very long time. Our commitment to keep our readers informed and serve our community is stronger than ever.

    On Aug. 12, we will publish a Q&A in The Star and on IndyStar.com regarding our changes. The next day, we'll also answer questions in a chat online. Please don't hesitate to email me with questions you'd like answered.

    Look for my letter in your mailbox in the weeks ahead.

    Thank you for making us part of your life. We will continue to work hard to earn your trust and your business.
    Contact Karen Crotchfelt, president and publisher
    Last edited by Unclebuck; 08-14-2012, 04:02 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

    http://www.indystar.com/article/2012...ON13/208120316

    Still have questions about the new Indy Star? Let us explain


    Can I still buy a copy of the print edition at my local store?
    Yes, print editions will still be available seven days a week at normal retail outlets.
    I am willing to pay for a Full Access subscription, but I have had some delivery challenges with my print edition. If you can get them fixed I would be a very happy customer.
    Please call us or email us if your print edition fails to arrive as promised. We work hard to provide great delivery but if you are having a problem, we ABSOLUTELY want to know about it and will work hard to fix it. Call us at 1-888-357-7827 or email IndianapolisStar@Gannett.com.
    I don't want digital, just home delivery of the print edition.
    We understand that some subscribers may still only want to use print, while others will only want to use online. However, our research indicates many customers want the convenience of accessing The Star's content in multiple ways. Full Access subscriptions allow you to choose. If you don't plan on using your digital access, you can share your log-in (you get two logins with your subscription) with a family member who may enjoy the many benefits and unique content only available online.
    If I get the digital-only subscription, will I be able to access all the coupons and inserts?
    You can find about half of the advertising inserts online at findnsave.indystar.com, which features coupons and circulars from participating advertisers. To ensure you get a full assortment of inserts and coupons, your best option is to choose a Full Access subscription including delivery of at least the Thursday and Sunday print editions.
    I have an iPad and have been using The Star's optimized site but it seems a little slow with a few glitches.
    Good news! With our launch of Full Access on Sept. 1, we will upgrade our tablet site. The site will have faster download times with select content available for offline viewing, simplified navigation to get you to stories you want with fewer taps, plus story commenting. Our new tablet site can also be accessed on many Android devices such as the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
    I love Indystar.com and would love to subscribe to a Full Access digital-only subscription. Can I get it without all the ads though?
    Just as we have ads in print, we will continue to have ads on our digital platforms. However, we have put in place new guidelines to try to avoid the ad clutter that frustrates you. Local businesses get great results from advertising on our digital platforms, including IndyStar.com, and we want to help them succeed.
    Will I have to subscribe or pay to read obituaries online?
    No, obituaries and several other sites -- such as Cars .com, CareerBuilder.com, Apartments.com and Home Finder.com -- will still have unlimited accessibility for non-subscribers.
    What kind of content will I get online that I don't already get in my print edition?
    Digitally, you'll get breaking news when it happens all day long and a robust offering of videos and photo galleries that complement stories or tell stories. You'll also have access to databases, such as our new Things to Do and Out to Eat content channels. Both have extensive local databases to help you plan your free time and find great places to eat. You can also join in the conversation by using your Facebook login to chat about stories of interest. Additionally with full access to the digital platforms, when you travel or wherever you are, you won't miss a moment of what is happening in Indy.
    Why is the price for a subscription that includes 7-day home delivery of the print edition going up so much?
    We believe the new subscription rate for full access across multiple platforms that includes 7-day home delivery of the print edition is priced appropriately to reflect the value of our high-quality, in-depth journalism and the costs associated with printing and delivering a product to your home every day. Our last price increase was in 2008. The new price, just 76 cents a day, ensures our ability to bring you great content and helps keep local journalism strong.
    You mentioned you will be improving your content. How?
    We are adding reporters to our local news coverage and are devoting more resources to breaking news. We're also adding reporters and expanding our coverage of things to do and places to go, and will be providing a local column focused on saving you money. We also continue to expand on the exclusive watchdog work you find only in The Star and at IndyStar.com.
    As far as digital goes, why would I pay you for something that I can get for free from somebody else?
    With a staff of more than 100 journalists in Central Indiana, we provide stories you can't find anywhere else. We devote more coverage than anyone else to the Colts and offer the insights of sports columnist Bob Kravitz and Pacers Insider Mike Wells, along with exclusive stories about your favorite colleges and high schools. Our StarWatch investigative team and other reporters regularly break exclusive, significant stories that expose wrongdoing, injustice and wasted tax dollars. You will see expanded entertainment coverage, with an eye toward helping busy families find fun things to do together, as well as our new bargain-hunting column. You'll find all of this and more at IndyStar .com.
    Have another question? Three ways to ask

    » Please call us at 1-888-357-7827 between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. today, or 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
    » Go to www.mynewspaperservice.com.
    » Join a live webchat from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday on IndyStar.com with Publisher and President Karen Crotchfelt, Vice President and Editor Jeff Taylor, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Douglas Wilson and Vice President of Digital Strategy Patricia Miller.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

      Way too steep. You can find better outlets for free, don't know why you would pay $12 for Indystar online access unless you just have money burning a hole in your pocket.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

        http://www.indystar.com/fdcp/?unique=1344974705735

        When I was in college, one of our journalism professors had a tradition of handing out an essay to his students each semester that reminded us of what newspaper readers expect.
        They expect you to get it right, he said. All the time. They expect you to be fair and balanced. And to be watchdogs. And to tell stories, great stories, that stir the heart, that inspire the soul, that cause grumbles, that surprise and delight. They expect you to tell them about their neighborhood, their city, their state, the nation, the world. To take them behind the scenes of their favorite sports. To be a leader in the community and make it a better place. To be sure the comics are there. And the puzzles and the ads that help people find great deals. And they expect you to deliver all of this to their homes every day, dry and fresh, by the time they wake up.

        We give them all of this, he said, for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.


        The message is as true today as it was then, except now we deliver all of that content, and more, in ways we never imagined -- still on paper, yes, but also on desktops and tablets and smartphones.

        At The Indianapolis Star, we've been committed to meeting those expectations for more than 100 years. We look forward to doing the same for a long time to come as our business model evolves.

        I've been in Indy only a month. In those four weeks, I've enjoyed exploring our wonderful city and I've enjoyed hearing from many of you. You've shared good wishes, your likes, your dislikes, and I appreciate the thoughtful input on how we can serve you better.
        Here's what I'd like you to know: We're working hard to do that. We are rolling out many improvements and new features at The Star and at IndyStar .com in direct response to what you've told us you want.

        We have a staff of more than 100 dedicated journalists -- the largest news force in Indianapolis and our state. They're an impressive team, passionate about their city and about the work they do, and I'm proud to lead their efforts as we focus on delivering a great news report in all the ways you've come to expect.

        Nearly 800,000 Central Indiana adults read The Star or IndyStar .com each week. We want you to know we're investing in our content, from adding reporters who cover local news to expanding our coverage of things to do and places to go. We're devoting more resources to breaking news coverage of significant, fast-developing stories while also expanding our emphasis on hard-hitting investigative reporting and public service journalism.

        You can count on finding exclusive stories with us. Our coverage of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, for instance, saved ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and led to the firing and resignations of government and business officials and the indictment of the state's top utility regulator. Our investigation into the tragic collapse of the State Fair stage rigging last year uncovered problems with inspection and permitting issues as well as failures in executing the fair's emergency plan -- all issues later confirmed by state-hired investigators. Our coverage of the state's Department of Child Services has exposed numerous incidents in which children were killed despite the agency's involvement or efforts to warn the agency.

        This kind of reporting is at the heart of what we do. We're continuing to invest in journalism that makes a difference and aims to make our city a better place for everybody. As part of those efforts, we are launching a 10-year commitment to Our Children/Our City, a public service project that seeks to improve the lives of kids in our community. We'll continue to shine light on the tough issues and challenges our community faces, with a goal of also pointing toward solutions.

        As we build on our local coverage, we want you to know that we have reporters assigned full time in places others don't -- City Hall, the Statehouse and other key posts where you expect us to watch your tax money. We're equally committed to the sports you love. And that's why you often see big sports news first at IndyStar.com.

        Our Pacers Insider Mike Wells was the first to report that Donnie Walsh was returning as team president. A few days later, Wells broke another story explaining why: Larry Bird was stepping down. Colts writer Mike Chappell was the first to report that quarterback Andrew Luck had reached a deal with the team. As the NFL season gets under way, we'll have the largest team of reporters devoted to Colts coverage. You'll continue to see up-to-the-minute reports, exclusive stories, deep profiles and analyses from Chappell, Phil Richards and Phillip B. Wilson, along with Star columnist Bob Kravitz.

        We're doing this and more because we want to continue to keep your business and your trust -- and because we listened to what you had to say about what you want. We'll keep listening and keep doing journalism that matters, journalism that makes a difference in your life.

        Jeff Taylor is editor and vice president of The Indianapolis Star. You may reach him at jeff.taylor@ indystar.com or at (317) 444-6160.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

          Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
          $12 per month to gain access online beyond 20 free stories per month. I thought everyone knew this, but I guess not. Are you going to pay it. I understand why they are doing this, but $12 per month seems a little steep to me - $144 per year seems too much. Although people paid for years and years (and still do) to have the print edition delivered to your house - not sure there is a difference.

          http://www.indystar.com/article/2012...ss-model-times

          Indianapolis Star updates business model for the times

          Since 1903, The Indianapolis Star has served Central Indiana with news and information. We've worked hard to keep a trust with you for nearly 110 years, even as a lot changed in that time.

          A hundred years ago in Downtown Indy, people didn't just talk about mass transit -- they rode it. A fleet of more than 300 electric streetcars crisscrossed the city. We've seen construction of Indy's first skyscrapers, the launch and expansion of the convention center and the construction of Circle Centre mall. The once-new Market Square Arena and RCA Dome gave way to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium. We're home to new museums, the zoo, Victory Field, the NCAA headquarters and now the nation's second-largest medical school on the site where IUPUI was born.

          How we communicate also has evolved, of course. We've moved from telegraph to telephones, to radio, to television and now into the digital age.

          Certainly, one of the more dramatic changes is how you and other Central Indiana residents get your news and information. It wasn't too long ago that the printed edition of The Star was the only option we provided to you. Today, you engage with us on your desktop, on your smartphone and on your tablet. In Central Indiana alone, more than 210,000 residents engage with The Star each week on a digital platform. Even more telling, 89,000 Central Indiana residents look at our news and information only on our digital platforms each week.

          And although many consumers choose to use digital devices to access our content, many still prefer the traditional print edition. In a typical week, more than 650,000 residents read a print edition of The Star. It's easy, though, to see where consumers are headed.

          After a century of doing business in about the same way, it's time for us to transform The Star's business model. These changes will include a new Full Access subscription plan that reflects the value of our content and ensures our ability to grow and serve you better. We are not unlike thousands of businesses that have needed to rethink their business model to keep ahead of changing needs of consumers.

          In the past year, we have met with many readers and conducted numerous research studies. We listened hard to what you want and need from us. No "one size fits all" was apparent, but what was obvious was the need to provide multiple options for you to access our content how, when and where you want it. And you told us that we must focus on (and invest in) the issues that you most care about. We will.

          Here are a few key highlights of our new business model:Beyond the headlines

          Our primary goal is to provide high-quality, in-depth journalism on topics you are passionate about. Great investigative reporting and public service rank high on that list. The Star's Our Children Our City project takes you inside the halls and classrooms of struggling schools and into the lives of children, shining a light on the troubling issues they confront and inspiring you to become involved. Our StarWatch investigative team brings you hard-hitting stories you can't get anywhere else -- exposing corruption, injustice and incompetent government agencies that waste your tax dollars.

          In sports, we take you beyond the games, bringing you closer to your favorite players and providing you with more angles on the Colts than any other source. We offer behind-the-scenes details, engaging humor, expert analysis and clever ways to save time and money. We have strong personalities and provocative columnists whose takes on life may delight you or rile you -- but always make you think. And we have great storytelling. All of this is part of our daily effort to improve your Star -- an effort that will now intensify as we devote greater resources to providing you with even more and better coverage.
          Multiple ways to connect with us

          All subscribers will have full access 24/7 through all of our platforms:

          » Print edition, delivered to your home.

          » e-Newspaper, replica of the print edition.

          » Desktop, on your computer.

          » Mobile, iPhone, Androidsmartphone.

          » iPad and other tablets.

          Full Access digital-only subscriptions are available for $12 a month, only 40 cents a day. Beginning Sept. 1, we will limit access to news and information content consumed through our website, smartphones and tablets. Nonsubscribers still will be able to read up to 20 stories per 30 days on IndyStar.com before needing to subscribe.
          New subscription rates

          We are committed to continuing to provide you with in-depth stories and compelling journalism in timely and meaningful ways. To be able to deliver on that commitment, we are raising some of our subscription prices. In August, you will get a letter from me outlining the specific changes to your subscription. The new rates are effective Sept. 1, but we will honor your current rate until your next billing cycle. We have not made this decision lightly. A Full Access subscription, including home delivery of the print edition each day, will be a great value at only 76 cents a day.

          Finally, there is one more part of our transformation that I want to explain. You may have heard or read recently that we have decided, after 104 years, to put our Downtown building on Pennsylvania Street up for sale. It has been a wonderful part of our history. But the Penn building no longer suits the size and needs of our staff. We need space that inspires us to be creative and digitally focused as we continue to pursue great journalism that makes an impact and is a positive force on our community. We are committed that Star employees will relocate to a new location Downtown still to be determined. We hope to find space that inspires our future and welcome you to be a partner in the conversation.

          All of our changes are meant to ensure we serve Central Indiana for a very long time. Our commitment to keep our readers informed and serve our community is stronger than ever.

          On Aug. 12, we will publish a Q&A in The Star and on IndyStar.com regarding our changes. The next day, we'll also answer questions in a chat online. Please don't hesitate to email me with questions you'd like answered.

          Look for my letter in your mailbox in the weeks ahead.

          Thank you for making us part of your life. We will continue to work hard to earn your trust and your business.
          Contact Karen Crotchfelt, president and publisher
          The star has become a terrible newspaper and there site isn't much better. Let Kravitz talk to himself..... ...

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

            LOL
            "Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

            "And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

              There is a zero percent chance I pay $12/month for the Star


              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                I barely read it free as it is now, no chance in hell I pay for it.
                "The greatest thing you know Comes not from above but below" Danzig

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                • #9
                  Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                  how much is do they charge for a physical subscription? $12 a month seems rather steep for a newspaper. You can subscribe to Netflix or Hulu Plus for cheaper than that.

                  But I do get why they are doing it. Newspapers should have been doing stuff like this from the start

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                    Originally posted by HC View Post
                    I barely read it free as it is now, no chance in hell I pay for it.
                    I too used to read it faithfully but it has become such a rag that I no longer bother..... ...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                      Originally posted by HC View Post
                      I barely read it free as it is now, no chance in hell I pay for it.
                      My thoughts exactly lol
                      If you havin' depth problems, I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but a bench ain't one! - Hicks
                      [/center]
                      @thatguyjoe84

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                      • #12
                        Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                        If you think people were complaining about the lack of content/price on Netflix @ $7.99/mo, you ain't seen nuthin' yet. $12/mo + having to still view ads + free content elsewhere=recipe for disaster.

                        I understand they're hemorrhaging money over there, but alienating the loyal customers is the worst thing they can do.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                          Will fail miserably
                          Counting down the days untill DJ Augustin's contract expires.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                            Originally posted by imawhat View Post
                            If you think people were complaining about the lack of content/price on Netflix @ $7.99/mo, you ain't seen nuthin' yet. $12/mo + having to still view ads + free content elsewhere=recipe for disaster.

                            I understand they're hemorrhaging money over there, but alienating the loyal customers is the worst thing they can do.
                            If they are losing that much money, they should fire Kravitz and a couple of other so-called reporters...... ...

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                            • #15
                              Re: Indystar.com to charge $12 per month for online access starting September 1st.

                              Like him or not, I suspect Kravitz is one of the most, if not the most valuable reporters the Star has in retaining readers. Almost 100% of his columns wind up at #1 on the Star's 'Most Popular' columns chart.

                              Financially he'd be as great of a loss the Star can have, in terms of writers.

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