The Times, they are a-changin'

The New York Times revealed its sharply conservative slant yesterday when it unveiled TimesSelect, a bold new strategy to effectively restrict its op-ed readership to people with some sort of job. While the economic barrier is anticipated to help stem an embarassing tide of demogoguery from the Times' pages, reducing readership alone may not be sufficient. There is also speculation that the move may be integrated with a strategy by noted economist Paul Krugman to lead this member of a shrinking industry into greater revenues, using the same theory applied by enacting price controls and tax increases to move a nation out of recession.

With talking points now priced at $50 a year, bloggers can expect swelling hit rates as they become the choke point for free access to the opinions of such op-ed giants as Bob Herbert and Frank Rich. Olliver Willis may be laying prone in a euphoric stupor, uncognizant of the seeping dark region on his pants. NPR chairman Jon Schwartz could issue a statement some time this week calling on government to recognize its obligation to eliminate the impending "opinion defecit" by delivering an increase in responsible, taxpayer-sponsored indoctrination.

Media experts anticipate that the supply gap may be filled by the Washington Post's Tina Brown, and international media such as the Guardian, Le Monde, and al-Jazeera. Some hope that a Maureen Dowd journal may soon appear at Daily Kos to ease the transition. The full impact of this move may not be fully realized until late 2008.