237 - Why I Am Paying for My Newspaper On-Line?

#237 - - - June 14, 2002 - - - 43,457 Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Host of: Strategies for e-Learning Workshop

1. Why I Am Paying for My Newspaper On-Line?
2. New: Strategies for e-Learning Workshop in August

1. Why I Am Paying for My Newspaper On-Line: I start everyday by reading,
at 6 am, the three newspapers in our area. All on-line. While the
pictures are fewer and the ads are different, the e-newspapers have become
an habit, especially when on the road or in a foreign land. All were
free, at least until last month.

One of our local papers announced that the on-line version of their paper
would be $13 a month. My first reaction was to say No! Why should I pay
for that paper, when the others were free. I still buy the print paper on
Sunday and on some days and am exposed to their banner ads at every click.
So, I balked and dropped them from my morning reading ritual.

For about 2 weeks. When I noticed the absence of this paper's content, I
took a deep breath, typed in my credit card and with a big smile returned
to the fold of e-readers. I have been intrigued by own behavior and what
it may say about our willingness to pay for on-line content in general.

When I focus on the value of the content to me, especially when I focus on
the COST OF NOT HAVING THE CONTENT, the $13 a month seems OK. When I
think about the cost of assembling the content, the $13 a month also seems
fine. Now, I would like them to drop or deeply reduce the banner ads and
increase the search capabilities. But, I had to go through a
re-evaluation of how I felt about paying for THIS type of on-line content.
Would I read as many local and national papers if there was a charge like
this for each, probably not. Would I pay to be part of a reading club
that gave me access to a collection of papers, like Nexis, for sure.

I never balked at paying for a print newspaper, yet this was a bridge to
cross before I could feel good about paying for an e-newspaper.
Ironically, the paper tells me they have gotten way fewer subscribers than
they thought! So, they are playing with their pricing and business
models. I am intrigued about readers' thoughts about your own response to
paying for e-content, whether it be a daily newspaper or knowledge flows.
Send me an email to emasie@masie.com with some thoughts on this issue.

2. New: Strategies for e-Learning Workshop in August: We have just
scheduled another session for our managers only, e-Learning Strategies
Workshop. It will be held at McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago,
IL on August 27 and 28. Details and on-line registration at
http://www.masie.com

236 - e-Learning Strategies Link with Learning Strategies; Be Clear About Copying and Forwarding Rules; Globalizing Learning: More Than Translation

#236 - - - June 10, 2002 - - - 43,444 Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Co-Host of: e-Learning Festival - Dublin, Ireland

1. e-Learning Strategies Link with Learning Strategies
2. Be Clear About Copying and Forwarding Rules
3. Learning Quote:
4. Globalizing Learning: More Than Translation

1. e-Learning Strategies Link with Learning Strategies: I am just
returning from a two day session with 96 Learning Managers focused on
e-Learning Strategies. The one theme that ran throughout our dialogues
and continues in my brain over the weekend is the essential link between
an e-Learning Strategy and the overall Corporate Learning Strategy.

Several years ago, e-Learning Strategies were primarily created as part of
the justification process leading up to a Learning or Collaboration System
procurement. However, more recent e-Learning Strategies, especially as
Blended Learning has been woven into the delivery mix, is deeply linked
with the overall Corporate Learning Strategy. We have found that many
companies are now making e-Learning an addition to their core strategies,
or integrating e-Learning requirements and goals into these core Strategy
Categories:

- Business Case and Alignment for Learning (and e-Learning)
- The Learning Culture
- Changes to Organizational Structures & Capacities for Learning
- Our Learning Processes
- Technology Capacities

As you develop your e-Learning Strategies, consider melding it into a new
and updated Corporate Learning Strategy.

2. Be Clear About Copying and Forwarding Rules: We have heard from a
number of learning departments that have hit some confusion about
learners' abilities under content licenses to copy or forward a screen or
chunk of information from an e-Learning course. Be clear with learners
at the start of an e-Learning offering about their rights and restrictions
on archiving, copying or forwarding content within and external to the
organization.

3. Learning Quote: Queen Elizabeth

"It's all to do with the training; you can do a lot if you're properly
trained." -- Queen Elizabeth II (1992)

4. Globalizing e-Learning: More Than Translation - The issue of
Globalizing e-Learning involves much more than just language translation.
This is the heart of the discussion that will be focused at the e-Learning
International Festival, to be held in Dublin, Ireland from July 8 to 10th.
Information at http://www.elearningfestival.com/

Upcoming MASIE Center Events/Services:
- TechLearn 2002 - October 27-30, Orlando, FL, www.masie.com
- e-Learning CONSORTIUM Membership - www.masie.com