The desperation of NYTimes • Hacker News Board

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#261

Post by the_origami_fox » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:13 PM UTC

the_origami_fox wrote: post #236

As an alternative, the Free Press is honestly much better. I joined it because of the NY Times' bitter hit piece on Bari Weiss, who left them to found the Free Press. I wanted something that wasn't woke. I've stayed because of the excellent quality of reporting, varied points of view, and well researched investigations. I was upset when Weiss announced she was leaving the Free Press to head a big American news agency…

On the technology side, I haven't wanted to unsubscribe from them entirely, but I have found it easy and useful to unsubscribe from specific various columnists and topics, especially as the paper has gotten larger and busier.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#262

Post by azangru » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:19 PM UTC

> I earn a small fraction of what NYTimes earns. If I'm not desperate, why are they?

He is an individual, and they are a company of about 6,000 people?

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#263

Post by wombat-man » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:20 PM UTC

I cancelled recently because they really started hassling me more about account sharing.

My friends, I do not share my NYT account. I have two computers at work, I have a number of personal devices. I don't know what number NYT thinks is normal for a person to have, but because I am over that number they were requiring me to login and enter in an OTP multiple times a day basically.

Anyway, it finally got to me. I'll get my news somewhere else I guess. I just don't think they take feedback seriously unless it comes with a cancellation.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#264

Post by wnc3141 » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:23 PM UTC

dieselgate wrote: post #10

epistasis wrote: post #3

NYTimes is predatory on subscriptions. Over my long lifetime I've subscribed twice, and regretted it both times with intensity. Any place that allows easy instantaneous subscription by a simple web form, but makes you call and talk to a person during limited business hours for cancellation , is a toxic place. I've been told they have stopped this predatory practice due to some newly passed laws or something, but they…

I respect your opinion but am grateful for and find tremendous value in my NYT subscription. I share it with my SO and read their articles constantly. Prior to getting a subscription I was a "turn js off" kind of person - which is fine I suppose and still do it for other sites. I do not maintain any streaming or other subscriptions outside of Deezer (and a Garmin GPS FWIW). I would like a Bloomberg subscription but t…

Bloomberg is crazy expensive. They used to have citylab articles without a paywall, but looks like they've fixed that.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#265

Post by ganzman » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:36 PM UTC

I have a similar story with The Guardian. After I subscribed, I got bombarded with emails soliciting for more money. Immediately cancelled my subscription.

What’s worse is that this nonsense appears everywhere now. When I started donating blood at a blood bank, I got hammered by SMS and email seeking my attention for all sorts and begging me for more donations, sucking even more blood out of me. This is such a turn off that I stopped donating altogether.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#266

Post by wfh » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:43 PM UTC

ethagnawl wrote: post #54

The UX anti-pattern of theirs which really grinds my gears is the "Continue reading in the app -- it's better." modal which appears when reading articles on the web. There does not seem to be a way to permanently opt out of it. I'm sure I could use GreaseMonkey or whatever to dismiss it for me but I mostly read articles on my phone, which makes any of that harder. The larger point, though, is that I shouldn't have to…

I emailed them about this and they said they would consider removing it. But need more people to complain. If you are a paying subscriber please let them know! There is power in your voice.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#267

Post by 50208 » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:51 PM UTC

NYT is a cancer on American society. Worst tho, it's described as a "liberal" news source, but over the course of it's long history it's done just about all it can to stab "liberals" in the back. All thinking people should avoid NYT at all costs (which is free to do).

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#268

Post by the_origami_fox » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 9:56 PM UTC

xnyan wrote: post #250

the_origami_fox wrote: post #236

As an alternative, the Free Press is honestly much better. I joined it because of the NY Times' bitter hit piece on Bari Weiss, who left them to found the Free Press. I wanted something that wasn't woke. I've stayed because of the excellent quality of reporting, varied points of view, and well researched investigations. I was upset when Weiss announced she was leaving the Free Press to head a big American news agency…

It was absolutely a hit piece, but what specifically was inaccurate?

The article I am referring to is https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/business/media/bari-weiss.... I don't have access to this anymore. I remember the tone as bitter.

The article argued her success was due to her own style of grievance reporting.

At the Free Press she spoke often about values, and you can still see this in her CBS press releases. I believe this contributed more.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#269

Post by DrNosferatu » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

I use a rechargeable card for subscriptions - just let it go to zero.

Re: The desperation of NYTimes

#270

Post by crispyambulance » Thu, Jun 04, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

dieselgate wrote: post #10

epistasis wrote: post #3

NYTimes is predatory on subscriptions. Over my long lifetime I've subscribed twice, and regretted it both times with intensity. Any place that allows easy instantaneous subscription by a simple web form, but makes you call and talk to a person during limited business hours for cancellation , is a toxic place. I've been told they have stopped this predatory practice due to some newly passed laws or something, but they…

I respect your opinion but am grateful for and find tremendous value in my NYT subscription. I share it with my SO and read their articles constantly. Prior to getting a subscription I was a "turn js off" kind of person - which is fine I suppose and still do it for other sites. I do not maintain any streaming or other subscriptions outside of Deezer (and a Garmin GPS FWIW). I would like a Bloomberg subscription but t…

I've used this pattern for ~10 years now:

1 Subscribe at some very reasonable intro rate: $4 a month for 6 months

2 The intro rate expires and goes to $25 a month.

3 I call the number to cancel, say I am canceling because expense

4 They offer the intro-rate again to keep me, I accept

5 goto 2

Lately, however, I haven't even had to call someone. I just go through their webapp and it automatically offers the intro rate again. I suppose that if I decline that, I would have to talk to someone, but I really like the NYTimes and $4.24/month is reasonable to me.

And yes, I think they do have some sense of desperation chasing them. It costs money to do what they do and newspapers are a hard business.

By the way... if the OP really doesn't want to bother with a subscription, many public libraries offer digital access in the form of 72 hour passes to the NYTimes, the passes are unlimited. I realize that public libraries aren't cool for the libertarian set, but it is a viable option. There are tons of other newspapers and magazines available to read online for free too through your public library (needs a library card though).