NY Times pulls back

Thursday, April 3, 2003 by Dave Winer.

Yin and yang 

Yesterday uncharacteristically good news about Microsoft.

Today, uncharacteristically bad news about the Microsoft of the news business: The New York Times.

Until today the Times archive was perfect. If you pointed to a Times article from an essay or a weblog post, as I have for almost ten years, the link would continue to work, year after year.

Today that ended. All my links into the NY Times archive that are older than 30 days are broken. I suspected this day would come, eventually. Advertising doesn't pay for Web publications. It probably doesn't pay for print pubs either anymore.

The business model for news is gyrating wildly. So much uncertainty. But one thing is certain, the Times will be missed on the Web.

Dave Winer