The Awl

ftrain on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

ftrain — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:34:07 +0000

You're right, Rains. It is clear that we have to make money online. One of the best ways I know to make money is http://turn-off-the-comments-after-a-set-period.com . That's the site I like to use for my turning off comments needs, which are many, and it might be--you would be suprised--the best in the turning off comments after a set period sites that is currently on the Internet for your turning off the comments after a set period on the site needs.

Rains on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Rains — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:47:49 +0000

Thanks for a very interesting interview. It was very interesting to find out how Paul's career began. It is cool that he became the editor of Harper's magazine, he has given so much ideas, time and efforts to it. It is like a happy ending. I think it is clear that all of us has to earn money for living. I think subscription is a better way to generate money than to such schemes like http://www.tubesfan.com/watch/how-to-generate-money-rapidly-online and a lot of similar. I think the price for the subscription is very low but at the same time it lets the staff who prepares the material earn money.

Patrick M on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Patrick M — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:57:05 +0000

You should have grilled him on his new line of ties.

Dave Curry on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Dave Curry — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:39:01 +0000

Great Post!

Grant G Brown on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Grant G Brown — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:31:19 +0000

I'm a man of many needs. I would probably file reading the Awl under "delights". However, I would gladly donate or purchase these delights. And Harper's, god bless them. I subscribe but often don't read it. I feel shame. But I hoard the back issues, going back decades now, in boxes in my basement. Because one day they'll be worth hundreds of dollars.

Trevor Jackson on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Trevor Jackson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:03:59 +0000

I don't have a problem with stuff being behind a paywall if it's valuable, but I have a problem with being unable to share what I find with others. How can I feed my ego if I can't post my web discoveries on Facebook like some leopard I've brought back to the tribe? I think I just had a personal breakthrough.

greymatter on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

greymatter — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:52:04 +0000

but, per Norm Pearlstine of Bloomberg online "our own experience is that you can charge a lot of money from an audience that has a special need for your content" and I think that many awl readers have a special need for awl content...

Nick Holdstock on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Nick Holdstock — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:33:07 +0000

What really sticks in my craw is when I subscribe to the print version of a journal and then have to pay an additional fee for the online version (you know I mean you, NYRB).

Ledrew on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Ledrew — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:29:26 +0000

Recent/new lovers of Paul Ford's work will probably greatly enjoy running through the letters of Gary Benchley: http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/gary_benchley/. Also, more of the above, please.

Colin on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Colin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:24:27 +0000

Just FYI, there is a Bear Blog. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/inside-nature/the-bear-blog-with-chris-morgan/

Colin on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Colin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:23:43 +0000

This was such a great conversation! And I really appreciated the NPR/PBS linkage mentions. I don't know about NPR, but I can report from the PBS side that there are incredibly strict policies about directly linking to a page that solicits some sort of sale or for-profit commercial transaction. Paywall trends right now have me worried about my future ability to include outgoing related links.

Gef the Talking Mongoose on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Gef the Talking Mongoose — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:09:21 +0000

Right? That's the kind of journalistic inside-baseball of which I cannot get enough. Ever.

Gef the Talking Mongoose on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Gef the Talking Mongoose — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:07:11 +0000

God, this sounds like the worst idea ever. Harper's is very prickly and specific and yeah, no doubt its readers are too (guilty!), but I'm not sure I want their (or my) snarky little epistles fouling the skirts of the Real Articles. No offense meant, Th'Awl. Just, uh, Harper's is on a different journalistic tip, if you get me.

xarissa on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

xarissa — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:45:38 +0000

after months and months of lurking, this is so good i conquered my laziness and got a username to say "THAT GOOD."

sweetpickles on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

sweetpickles — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:13:50 +0000

I know it would be nice to sit at home and make sarcastic remarks about the news all day and get paid for it, but I don't see that happening. At least not with pay walls. I don't agree that all content should be free, but your competition will continue to make it so. I've found this through my own experience.

CaptainFantastic on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

CaptainFantastic — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:54:30 +0000

Saul?

garge on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

garge — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:54:05 +0000

I agree to the latter, mordzook, it left me aroused, to my surprise.

Gef the Talking Mongoose on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Gef the Talking Mongoose — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:39:10 +0000

Hell, I subscribed to Harpers in the first place because of the archive. The only thing that even comes close is the New Yorker online archive (again, complete run of the magazine, available to subscribers) which is also a total brainsuck time sink and full of terrific writing too.

mordzook on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

mordzook — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:20:09 +0000

I'd keep 'em feral. I like 'em good and feral. Sidenote: this was the most exciting thing I have ever read about paywalls. Astonishing, I know.

jolie on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

jolie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:55:23 +0000

(I was a lil' disappointed he didn't ask who was responsible for featuring the Renata Adler piece in response - erm, "response" - to the Times article. COME ON - YOU ASKED, RIGHT???)

KarenUhOh on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

KarenUhOh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:48:16 +0000

There are bears on PBS all the time, K, but you'd have a hard time knowing that, since you spend most of your hard-earned TV time on the Booze Network. For Boob TV, I highly recommend the Travel Channel on Sundays. There's even long-armed men wearing bamboo sleeves around their, uh, long arms.

KarenUhOh on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

KarenUhOh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:45:09 +0000

You know, if you don't want to force us to pay to read here, you could at least try to set up a secure system to allow us with [meager, OKAY??] means to help support your enterprise. [N.B. Don't give me that "invest" crapola. I tried THREE TIMES to do that, and you BLEW ME OFF.] Kind of like NPR, or PBS, but with bears and booze and surreptitious, totally unpatronizing, titty pix.

Maura Johnston on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Maura Johnston — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:28:14 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with statements 1 and 3! (I only let my sub lapse for a short while when I was between jobs.)

barnhouse on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

barnhouse — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:24:55 +0000

Yeah. Can I also say how much I LOVE Scott Horton.

Brad Nelson on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Brad Nelson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:02:12 +0000

Until he gets feral.

HiredGoons on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

HiredGoons — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:43:33 +0000

Um, I'll take your money.

HiredGoons on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

HiredGoons — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:42:51 +0000

Shhhhhh!

NotAndersonCooper on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

NotAndersonCooper — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:00:49 +0000

I join you in this pledge.

gregorg on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

gregorg — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:59:14 +0000

1. Paul should be the first blogger to win a MacArthur, no pun intended. 2. I reupped to Harpers exactly for the archive he exhumed and put online. 3. While the Metafilter idea sounds great in theory, the intensity I imagine for Harpers readers scares me.

barnhouse on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

barnhouse — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:58:50 +0000

I have been begging to pay for weeks, but nobody ever responds. I feel rejected, like my money isn't good enough for you, Awl?

hockeymom on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

hockeymom — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:36:44 +0000

For the record, I would gladly pay for Awl content. (I like it for free, but I do believe people should get paid for their work...especially when they create content that tends to make you think and feel.)

Flashman on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Flashman — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:24:56 +0000

I thought this was just the standard Wordpress template.

benis on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

benis — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:04:53 +0000

Why didn't you ask him if things would change now that Hodge has left! My $16.97 wants to know!

jolie on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

jolie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:15:11 +0000

I am in love with this Paul Ford! IN LOVE. I want to find him in a cardboard box in front of my door, and then have to jump up and down begging Choire, "Can we keep him? Can we, can we?? Papa pleeeaaase!!!" AND HE LET'S ME KEEP HIM IN THE END, DOESN'T HE??!!??

Choire Sicha on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

Choire Sicha — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:10:04 +0000

Actually, we should make note somewhere of the fine individual who has been assisting us here.... We do not have Paul but we do have the next best thing!

jolie on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

jolie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:05:54 +0000

This knocked me out cold: Paul: Our readers are intense and have very many things to say! Choire: Hoo, I bet.

formerly it takes a lot etc. on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

formerly it takes a lot etc. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:03:07 +0000

A website relaunch and then an interview with a publication's webmaster...am I to take it that those are Paul's fingerprints I see all over this gorgeous new real estate?

devaluingmyfame on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

devaluingmyfame — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:57:52 +0000

THIS WAS SO AMAZING!

wiilliiaamm on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

wiilliiaamm — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:53:35 +0000

what about all this "micro-billing" hoo haa i keep hearing about? Some say it will be the quick fix savior -- the V8 moment everyone has been looking for....

lawyergay on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

lawyergay — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:53:34 +0000

TheAwl Editorial Staff: I just want to stop you right now from embarrassing yourselves any further. The $1.41/month I pay for my subscription to Harper's and its stupendously rich online archive is without a doubt the most wasteful $1.41 I spend all month.

sunnyciegos on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

sunnyciegos — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:53:09 +0000

I'm just glad they finally changed the password from "harpers."

lempha on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

lempha — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:45:45 +0000

When I got to the Harper's metafilter thing my brain kind of exploded.

HiredGoons on A Conversation with Paul Ford, Web Editor of Harper's Magazine

HiredGoons — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:42:04 +0000

<- dying. DIE. ING.