The New York Times has made an interesting acquisition: they've acquired The Wirecutter, an online product review website, and its sister site Sweethome for $30 million. The Times is also working harder to grow its digital revenues, and hopes to double them by 2020. While they experienced a slowdown in print sales, they have had success with the online subscription model. They are planning to expand their website content to reach a larger audience in the coming years.
The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter is The New York Times' tech-related competitor. The New York Times doesn't have many digital units. And standalone apps haven't always been successful. The Times' digital and print advertising revenues are both on the decline and it is struggling to keep its head above water. The company is considering slashing staff, due to a shrinking Newsroom and fewer paid Articles.
The Sweethome
The Wirecutter, a product recommendation site that dates back five years, has been purchased by The New York Times. The website also includes The Sweethome. The company is extremely well run with a solid revenue model and a commitment for great service journalism. The deal closed on Monday, and Recode reports that the paper paid $30 million for the new business. The New York Times hopes that its digital revenue will double by 2020. It is also making strides with its online subscription model.
New York Times
The New York Times' tech reviews are not afraid to mention the most recent gadgets. Technology is embraced by the paper's reporter. One reporter even brought an iPad into work to share with his colleagues. The reporter also uses Twitter for news and updates. He wrote a glowing review of an iPad app in a recent article. Here are his top three picks. All of them are worthy of a read.
Paywall for Wirecutter article
The New York Times is now imposing a paywall upon some Wirecutter articles. While subscription prices are increasing, the basic-digital–access subscription is the same. A digital-media consultant indicated that the Times strategy made sense to use a paywall. He also said that he would continue Wirecutter articles and would keep them behind the Times' metered feewall.
Staff
New York Times employees often do work from home, which is why the New Year spotlighted the issue. NYT encourages heated debate on the Services. Personal attacks are forbidden. Find out how to report comments about the NYT. You can also read the New York Times staff tech review. These reviews are written by editors and journalists. They are based solely on the journalist's experiences and do not necessarily reflect the Times editorial board.