That’s right: Thirty-five

In late October, Newsday, the Long Island daily that the Dolans bought for $650 million, put its web site, newsday.com, behind a pay wall. The paper was one of the first non-business newspapers to take the plunge by putting up a pay wall, so in media circles it has been followed with interest.

…

That astoundingly low figure was revealed in a newsroom-wide meeting last week by publisher Terry Jimenez when a reporter asked how many people had signed up for the site. Mr. Jimenez didn’t know the number off the top of his head, so he asked a deputy sitting near him. He replied 35.

Michael Amon, a social services reporter, asked for clarification.

“I heard you say 35 people,” he said, from Newsday’s auditorium in Melville. “Is that number correct?”

Mr. Jimenez nodded.

Wow. It should be noted, however, that the website offers free access to all print subscribers, as well as to certain cable television subscribers. Publisher Terry Jimenez explained that web was not intended as a revenue generator, but rather as way to provide extra benefit to loyal subscribers.

But still… 35?

We can’t know whether the move to a paid-content format affected the print or cable subscription rates. Though it would be hard to imagine a large enough bump to offset what must be an astronomical drop off in online advertising revenue.

A Nov. 26 article in the District edition of Local Living incorrectly said a Public Enemy song declared 9/11 a joke. The song refers to 911, the emergency phone number.

I tracked down the original article (which has since been corrected) here. In relevant part:

Public Enemy has earned notoriety with more than 20 years of politically charged music about fighting the power, challenging racism and declaring that 9/11 was a joke.

I’m not really interested in the error – I’m more amused by the way the Post chose to sum up Public Enemy’s body of work.

Let’s sum up a few other bands in a similar way, shall we?

“The Beatles earned notoriety with more than 30 years of groundbreaking music about having tickets to ride, advocating taking day trips, and promoting the proliferation of strawberry fields.”

“Pink Floyd earned notoriety with more than 40 years of progressive music about the differences between heaven and hell, their love of shiny diamonds, and not needin’ no education.”

“The Rolling Stones earned notoriety with more than 40 years of attention-grabbing music about painting red doors black, their undying search for satisfaction, and declaring their ownership of clouds.”

“Michael Jackson earned notoriety with more than 40 years of pop music about starting something, staring at himself in the mirror, and declaring himself  ’bad’.”

Maybe some things are better left undefined.