Dear SCVTalk Readers,
Letter from the Publisher
I want to thank you for making SCVTalk.com the SCV’s premiere news and opinion blog. Since the spring of 2006, you’ve made this place the best site on the internet to discuss all things Santa Clarita. You’ve made the SCV a better, brighter, and more informed place as a result, and I do what I do everyday for you. So thank you.
Unfortunately, in these tough economic times, choices have to be made. We’re seeing cutbacks everywhere, from our local government all the way up to Congress, and, though I tried, the brutal reality of the economy has finally hit SCVTalk.com.
Recently I lost my job. I can’t get into the circumstances of it, but let’s just say some humorless executive took my harmless prank the wrong way and I was let go “for cause” (whatever that means.) I can’t draw upon the unemployment insurance I’ve been paying into for lo these many years. I’ve been out of work for a few weeks now, and cracks are forming here in the high-density SCVTalk.com HQ, orbiting high above Newhall. My release from employment came just a few months after my dog died, and it’s been downhill ever since. It’s fair to say I’m in a deep blue funk, listening to Mad World again and again, getting re-acquainted with Top Ramen, refusing to shave, and wearing pajamas, well, everywhere. My wife left me and even the new dog acts as if he’s better than me. My 40 under 40 Benefits have dried up. No one is returning my calls.
That’s where SCVTalk and you come in. I figure I work really hard on this blog, trying to find you the best news & opinion stories. I’m up at 5, sometimes 4am, searching, reading, and thinking about the Daily Brief. Why do I do it everyday? My mission is to make for a better informed public
Errr, I should say was. No longer. Now SCVTalk is all I got.
Literally. This site and you are all that stands between me and my next home in the Santa Clara river wash.
So with all that said, I’m happy to announce that SCVTalk.com is implementing a New York Times style paywall, effective immediately. Here’s how it works:
- For the low weekly price of just $5*, you will get access to an expanded Daily Brief in whatever format you like- blog post, email, RSS feed, hell, I’ll even print it out and fax it to you if you want**
- For just $2.50 more per week (for a total of $7.50, less than the cost of a cup of coffee if you were to buy a cup of coffee everyday, which, face it, most of us do), I’ll even include links to the stories I summarize in the Daily Brief. That way you won’t have to hunt around for them.
- SCVTalk.com has always been about the discussion (it’s in our name after all), and I’m happy to announce that won’t change. Readers will be able to express their opinion in the new regime for a rock-bottom price of only $0.50 per comment. Bulk packages are available (the more you comment, the more you save!) see terms and conditions
- A lot of you email me with complaints about my posts and other commenters. In the old SCVTalk, I just ignored these emails, but under this new system, you have a guarantee that I will not only read your emails but I will moderate SCVTalk in favor of the reader who bids highest in a live, web-based snap auction (low reserve, moderation starts off at only $5). Don’t like what you see on SCVTalk.com? Well under this new plan, the free market gets to decide what gets posted and what gets censored. Who wants it more and how bad do they want it? These are the exciting questions readers will have to answer on the new SCVTalk
I know radical change like this can be unsettling. But you’re dealing with me, Jeff Wilson, practically a household name in the SCV. I’ve been blogging SCVTalk-style since 2006, longer than just about every reporter at the Signal. I’ve been through phat and thin times and no one knows this town like me. When you invest in SCVTalk, you’re investing in the real SCV McCoy and I won’t let you down.
Besides, you know that your weekly subscription will go toward a good cause, namely keeping a roof over my head and my body somewhat well-fed. And even more than that, you’ll be helping me to buy more stuff to keep myself happy since I’ve been so depressed. Some of the things I need are a new computer, a 4G mobile phone, a vacation to Maui, an Omega Sea Master watch and some new clothes.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting SCVTalk. I know you and I will be very happy under this new arrangement as we -together- take SCVTalk to the next level.
Sincerely,
Jeff Wilson
Publisher, Editor & Founder of SCVTalk.com
* I’m happy to announce a discount to this charge for liberal readers of SCVTalk. SCVTalk has been a solid outpost for Democrats, progressives and liberals in the conservative SCV, and I want to continue tradition going forward. So if you are a liberal in Santa Clarita and subscribe today, I’ll cut $2.50 off your weekly subscription rate. For everyone else, standard rates apply.
** Long distance rates apply. Please note at Checkout whether you want a fax or dictation of the Daily Brief
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