The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 48, November 25, 2007, Article 17

PUBLISHING TREND: CONTENT FOR FREE – IS NUMISMATICS NEXT?

Dick Johnson writes: "If a person is savvy to analyze a
current event he might be able to project this into future
and recognize an early trend leading to something that will
affect many people and how they will live their lives in the
future. One of those prophetic events occurred this week.

"The Internet has grossly affected the publishing world -
so much so that it is affecting billion dollar purchases.
It has influenced one man in particular who made a prophetic
announcement this week.

"Publishing guru Rupert Murdoch told investors that after
he has full control of the Wall Street Journal he is going
to give it away! He wants to raise readership from one million
to 15 million a day! He believes he will reap more profits
from the advertising than he would from the loss of selling
subscriptions!

"If this trend catches on you could someday subscribe to
every numismatic publication you want for free.

" 'Subscriptions thrive in an area where there's scarcity
— content that people can't get anywhere else,' said Rafat
Ali, publisher of PaidContent.org, told The New York Times.
'Other than that, you need an advertising-based model,'
Ali said.

"Most other major news organizations long ago gave up on
charging for their work, hoping to make the difference up
in ads. And, until only recently, that seemed like a distant
dream.

"No more. There's big money online now — very big.

"Internet ad revenues hit $5.2 billion in the third quarter,
up 25 percent over the third quarter one year earlier,
according to a study by the Interactive Advertising Bureau
and PricewaterhouseCoopers.  All three quarters in 2007 set
records, the IAB found. Experts estimate it will be a $20
billion-plus year.

"Numismatic publications on the internet anyone?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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