NY Times re Consumers Union: "Success Without Ads"

Great article on Consumers Union yesterday in the Times:

It makes no sense for publications to charge readers on the Web — at least, that’s the conventional wisdom. But conventional wisdom does not carry much weight at Consumer Reports, that detailed guide to buying everything from prescription drugs to pickup trucks.

...

None of it would work if it were not for the fact that “what they do is useful, practical, needed,” Mr. Brownridge said, and that the magazine “has credibility, an authoritative voice.”

Success without ads? A focus on the useful, if boring?

Also, they're involved in a genuinely heroic effort to expose front groups like swiftboaters.

Sounds familiar to me; that's why I joined the board of Consumers Union to help out.

Comments

[Christian Gloddy]

Great post. I've been a Consumers Union member for close to a decade now and it's easily the best money I spend all year.

[Diego Mendiburu]

Dear Mr. Newmark,

I’m a young journalist in Mexico City starting to write about technology in a prestigious national magazine called “emeequis” (meaning “mx”). It would be an honor if you could help me in the elaboration of an article about craigslist.org by answering, via email, a few number of questions as soon as possible. As you will see, I’m skipping the basics about the site trying to cover some aspects I have not being able to find on the internet or in previous interviews you have given.

Without further delays, here are the questions:

1- Craigslist relies on the establishment of a “blind” confidence and/or trust between its members. Do you believe this trust can also exist and be successful in all the countries of the world, despite having different moral values?
2- How important its anonymity for the success of the social aspect of Craigslist?
3- Do you relieve Craigslist could be considered a predecessor to the actual success of social networks like myspace.com and facebook?
4- If Craigslist can survive free of ads and almost free of charges, do you believe that other sites like social networks or email web services could also do the same?
5- What is the biggest menace Craigslist is facing right now?
6- A bunch of companies have demonstrated interest in acquiring Craigslist but haven’t being successful. How could we explain that they have not being able to replicate the concept of the site and its success? What mistakes have they made?
7- Could Craigslist survive independent, free of ads and almost without fees without you and your values?
8- What is the status of Craigslist in México? Has it fulfilled the expectations?
9- Do you like the popularity you have gained due to the site?
10- What is the strangest thing you have seen being sold on Craigslist?
11- How often do you sell or buy things at Craigslist?

Thank you in advance for your attention. My email address is mendicon@hotmail.com. Here is the site of the magazine in case you are curious about it: http://www.m-x.com.mx/

Once again, thank you very much mister Newmark.

Greetings,
Diego Mendiburu
Journalist.

PD: Sorry for using your blog for this, but it seemed like the fastest and more direct way to contact you.