Beginning Monday, June 8, Kerry Dougherty and Mike Gruss will concentrate their online work on their PilotOnline.com blogs. And you’ll now find their columns only in The Virginian-Pilot.
Online, you'll be able to read their latest opinions, post comments and interact with other users all in one place: their blogs.
In print and in ePilot - the digital copy of The Pilot - you'll still be able to read their full columns. ePilot is free to Virginian-Pilot subscribers and only $5 a month for non-subscribers.
Why are we doing this? The newspaper industry is going through tough economic times, and it just makes good business sense to charge a reasonable, competitive price for our unique printed product, while still offering free information and conversation on our advertiser-supported Web sites.
So read Kerry’s blog free online; get her column on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in the Hampton Roads section of The Pilot or ePilot. Read Mike’s blog free online; get his column on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in The Daily Break section of The Pilot or ePilot.
Starting Monday, June 15, op-ed columns -- by Roger Chesley, Donald Luzzatto, Christina Nuckols, Daryl Lease and Candy Hatcher -- also will be available only in the print newspaper and in ePilot. Editorials and the Letters to the Editor blog will remain online so readers can comment on and debate them.
For information about newspaper and ePilot subscriptions, call 1-800-446-2005 or visit this page.
Questions? Comments? Opinions? Post them in the comments here.
ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of civility. Comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its Web sites. Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Report Violation" link below the comment.
Submitted by Bob Farinelli on Fri, 07/03/2009 at 9:59 pm.
I understand that this makes sense. I read the paper every day but I also like to go on line to the blogs. I have a subscription in my wife's name, I sure hope that counts. She doesn't read the paper near as much as I do and she doesn't get on the blogs at all.
Submitted by rubyn84783 on Fri, 06/19/2009 at 3:36 pm.
(Why are we doing this? The newspaper industry is going through tough economic times, and it just makes good business sense to charge a reasonable, competitive price for our unique printed product, while still offering free information and conversation on our advertiser-supported Web sites.)
Well guess WHAT Mike & Kerry alot of people are going to do without reading your columns.
I guess the pilot is trying to justify your salary with additional fees?PPPLEASE!
"you can give it, but you can't take it"! I'm sure that by keeping these items in the paper itself, they won't generate as much immediate reader commentary. It's a cold day in heck when ever the Pilot's Editorial writers, as individuals, produce a column that doesn't warrant ridicule. But, that's what happens when the only consideration for a position there is being a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat! This isn't ecomonics at issue, it their cowardice!
Submitted by Elizabeth.Smith on Tue, 06/09/2009 at 11:28 am.
Just wanted to let you know this change was driven by a much simpler objective. We want to differentiate our print and online products and leverage the strengths of the media. Online, a blog makes more sense. You all can talk/discuss/argue back and forth and others can chime in.
But no cigar. Of course that is perfectly fine with the Pilot editorial staff as they don't believe anyone should be able to enjoy one in a private place of business, even if it is the owner him/herself.
As I said in my previous post, you took away the ability to subscribe to your print version from those of us on the Eastern Shore. I'll be daggoned if I'm going to pay you for an online version of your continual assaults on everything this nation was founded upon other than your favorite 4 words: freedom of the press
You either adhere to the ENTIRE body of the Constitution or you jeopardize all of it.
Submitted by Archie on Tue, 06/09/2009 at 11:09 am.
I hope it works, because I enjoy reading both. I will miss commenting on their columns on-line, but there is the Letters to the Editor as well as a direct e-mail to whichever one you wish to comment to or about.
I get the on-line version free since I am a subscriber, but use it mostly if I am out of town or somehow missed getting a look at the paper. Reading the print version is one of my forms of relaxation, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening. Even though I have already read many of the stories on-line, I like seeing them in print as well. Call me an old foggie if you want!
I look forward to keeping the columnists in the paper, and even bringing back a few who were let go recently, like Mr. Warren. Heck, I still miss Lawrence Maddry!
Submitted by carriep30012 on Tue, 06/09/2009 at 5:51 am.
Wow, did not know that the times were so bad that you take only TWO of your columnist and pull the online version of their columns. Kerry's is the only opinion column that I read and pulling it will not convince me to buy a paper. I guess I will do without.
Submitted by gabriellel45516 on Sat, 06/06/2009 at 11:40 am.
Everyone is going through tough economic times, the newspaper industry is no different, except that much of it is self inflicted. One sided editorial stances, opposition to just about everything our country stands (stood) for except your own 1st amendment rights, and constant harping about all that is negative in life tend to have consequences.
I will miss Kerry's columns, but since I live on the Eastern Shore and can no longer get delivery of the Pilot, I will not pay for the E version. Of course I do get more Eastern Shore news from the Maryland papers anyway....
Submitted by Kirk.Smith on Fri, 06/05/2009 at 10:18 pm.
Although I concur that the Pilots business is and should be about the almighty dollar, being a "road-warrior" travel type (much like most of the Pilots readers, I would imagine", I am going to protest this as much as folks will read, which if polls are correct, show that 4 of 5 folks get the news online.
So, my conclusions are, that we are keeping folks away the columns in question, due to possible differences of opinion, and want to reduce the columns impact or... well of course censorship online is illegal so that is out of the question.
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This makes sense
I understand that this makes sense. I read the paper every day but I also like to go on line to the blogs. I have a subscription in my wife's name, I sure hope that counts. She doesn't read the paper near as much as I do and she doesn't get on the blogs at all.
(Why are we doing this? The
(Why are we doing this? The newspaper industry is going through tough economic times, and it just makes good business sense to charge a reasonable, competitive price for our unique printed product, while still offering free information and conversation on our advertiser-supported Web sites.)
Well guess WHAT Mike & Kerry alot of people are going to do without reading your columns.
I guess the pilot is trying to justify your salary with additional fees?PPPLEASE!
This epitomizes the old adage:
"you can give it, but you can't take it"! I'm sure that by keeping these items in the paper itself, they won't generate as much immediate reader commentary. It's a cold day in heck when ever the Pilot's Editorial writers, as individuals, produce a column that doesn't warrant ridicule. But, that's what happens when the only consideration for a position there is being a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat! This isn't ecomonics at issue, it their cowardice!
Good riddance (except to Kerry)
The notion of paying for this left-wing drivel is a joke!
When Op-Ed is not Op-Ed
What's the point of having Op-Eds written by the same people who write the editorials?
Kind of defeats the point of having them.
Kerry and Mike's blogs
Just wanted to let you know this change was driven by a much simpler objective. We want to differentiate our print and online products and leverage the strengths of the media. Online, a blog makes more sense. You all can talk/discuss/argue back and forth and others can chime in.
So check out Mike's blog http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/mike-gruss and Kerry's blog http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/kerry-dougherty and share your reactions to their latest posts. I think you'll find most of what you liked about their columns.
Thank you for using our websites.
Elizabeth
Nice try, Elizabeth
But no cigar. Of course that is perfectly fine with the Pilot editorial staff as they don't believe anyone should be able to enjoy one in a private place of business, even if it is the owner him/herself.
As I said in my previous post, you took away the ability to subscribe to your print version from those of us on the Eastern Shore. I'll be daggoned if I'm going to pay you for an online version of your continual assaults on everything this nation was founded upon other than your favorite 4 words: freedom of the press
You either adhere to the ENTIRE body of the Constitution or you jeopardize all of it.
"differentiate our print and online products"
The future of the print press will depend on a synergy with electronic media. You need to spend less time on altering perceptions and cover the news.
I agree with George.
George, I agree with you - the Pilot has far too much "master narrative" that causes the "news" paper to become more propaganda then news.
Sounds Fair to Me
I hope it works, because I enjoy reading both. I will miss commenting on their columns on-line, but there is the Letters to the Editor as well as a direct e-mail to whichever one you wish to comment to or about.
I get the on-line version free since I am a subscriber, but use it mostly if I am out of town or somehow missed getting a look at the paper. Reading the print version is one of my forms of relaxation, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening. Even though I have already read many of the stories on-line, I like seeing them in print as well. Call me an old foggie if you want!
I look forward to keeping the columnists in the paper, and even bringing back a few who were let go recently, like Mr. Warren. Heck, I still miss Lawrence Maddry!
Poor Decision
Wow, did not know that the times were so bad that you take only TWO of your columnist and pull the online version of their columns. Kerry's is the only opinion column that I read and pulling it will not convince me to buy a paper. I guess I will do without.
Tough economic times
Everyone is going through tough economic times, the newspaper industry is no different, except that much of it is self inflicted. One sided editorial stances, opposition to just about everything our country stands (stood) for except your own 1st amendment rights, and constant harping about all that is negative in life tend to have consequences.
I will miss Kerry's columns, but since I live on the Eastern Shore and can no longer get delivery of the Pilot, I will not pay for the E version. Of course I do get more Eastern Shore news from the Maryland papers anyway....
To blog or not to blog
Although I concur that the Pilots business is and should be about the almighty dollar, being a "road-warrior" travel type (much like most of the Pilots readers, I would imagine", I am going to protest this as much as folks will read, which if polls are correct, show that 4 of 5 folks get the news online.
So, my conclusions are, that we are keeping folks away the columns in question, due to possible differences of opinion, and want to reduce the columns impact or... well of course censorship online is illegal so that is out of the question.
W/R
Kirk