They're killing themselves. I mean, they are giving their content away online for free. Even (most) paywalls are losing money. Ask yourself, "Would the average local daily be in better or worse shape if it had stayed off the Internet for the last decade?"
Don't get me wrong. I support an open Internet, I enjoy blogging, etc. But I think most print newspapers have embraced a business model that is not profitable.
I see what you are saying, and indeed most are doing badly.
But look at your choice of words there, you say they have "embraced a business model". I don't think any have embraced it, they went grudgingly with it. And I blame a bit on their old-school unionized staff, and most on management.
I read the TC online every day, and I know I am missing out on some pictures etc, but I bet some don't think they are missing anything. Why not give me 1/2 the story, or remind me
every time I read the thing, that "Sundays print edition has a full photo-feature on this subject" or something. Selling me the Sunday paper is better than nothing.
I just think they went online half-heartedly, and now they don't know where they should be.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>