[goleoboy]

guys, read that HK Standard is gonna be a free pub starting next week. What do you guys think? Do you thing the pub is gonna lose it's editorial credibility? I'm worried it may turn into a free rag filled with advertorials (ie. advertising disguised as articles) which I see ALOT in chinese newspapers...

Another note< was walking in central the other day and they were giving away WSJ Asia on the street, are 'free pubs' the big thing here?

[KnowItAll]

What credibility?

Funny thing is .. I was out with a bunch of newspaper guys last night and everyone is adopting a "wait and watch" stance. Looks like way too many people in the press don't kind words about the SCMP.

[beafan]

i prefer scmp. but u hv to pay for it online, thus the standard is the secondary option. probably better to keep reading it online to save paper. well.. hopefully.

[frogman]

Originally Posted by goleoboy

Another note< was walking in central the other day and they were giving away WSJ Asia on the street, are 'free pubs' the big thing here?

No, the WSJ isn't free. What you probably saw was a tactic that some newspapers engage in: dumping copies on the market to convince advertisers that circulation is higher than it actually is.

[kombuchakid]

Bumping by Dumping! whatever next?

I used to get this newspaper guy trying to sell me a SCMP for $1 just after 7pm-does the paper turn into a pumpkin after that?
For some reason these guys will only take $6 if you buy in the morning.

Now the Standard is to be free I hope they do not have people handing it out like confetti.

I have informed our resident free paper provider to pick up a copy of the Standard on her way in on Monday, so I will reserve judgement till then.

[texasaxel]

Whether I'll continue to buy the SCMP regularly or read the free Standard depends on two things.

a.) Where the free Standard will be distributed
b.) Whether the quality of the contents drops; I currently like it mostly for their sports section, which tends to be a bit more up-to-date (later cut-off time, perhaps) than that in SCMP.

I usually read my paper on the morning ferry from Discovery Bay. If the free Standard is not available near the DB ferry pier then I will most likely keep buying the SCMP. I suspect most of the free distribution will be in the same places where the free Chinese dailies are currently distributed. The morning commute will become more hazardous ...

might buy the odd SCMP just to read Jake van der Kamp though ...