I believe that good HR professionals are
- critical thinkers,
- lovers of pop culture & media, and
- savvy business entrepreneurs.
Business is everywhere, and the best HR professionals read everything — from Entertainment Weekly to ESPN. I try to practice what I preach and consume news & information from a variety of sources — including financial news websites and magazines about home decorating — but I won’t read the WSJ Online.
This isn’t a political or social statement.
- I’m willing to overlook the ownership issues at WSJ.
- I’m willing to overlook its editorial board.
- I’m truly willing to overlook its political biasies.
Unfortunately, I’m not willing to overlook the fact that they charge you to read much of their online content — and they still subject you to ads & links & banners after you fork out your hard-earned cash.
What the eff? Do I look like I just fell off the pumpkin truck? The WSJ Online offers nothing that I can’t find on the websites of The NYTs, Newsweek, or even CNN.
- Those chumpsky sites? Free.
- Rupert Murdoch’s chumpsky site? $89/year.
Thanks but no thanks. I’ll take that $89 and spend it on donuts and coffee before I pay you to advertise crappy news articles to me.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Laurie,
I seriously agree. I am about as conservative as they come and read about 5 online newspapers a day. The WSJ is not one of them. There are apparently a lot of suckers out there to make that business plan work.
Dan, I’m with you. Suckers. All of them.
My name is Bill. I am a sucker.
“Hi Bill”
At least I have recognized that I have a problem. I have paid, in one form or another, for WSJ since it came out – I am guessing at least 10 years. However, I think I am done.
Many of the columns and information that, frankly, I thought was better quality that other sources was, simply, worth the money. However as the general quality of the business and financial journalism at WSJ has declined, I find the online content much less unique and valuable.
So, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Thanks Laurie for the online intervention.
@Bill Thank you for being honest with yourself, Bill. You are among friends. This is a safe space. Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step towards recovery.
If it makes you feel better, I will admit that I had a corporate account that *just* expired. I made excuses and told myself that the shareholders of my company needed me to be informed; however, now that I have to pay for the subscription myself, I recognize that I was in denial.
We will be uninformed together.