I apologize for the delay in posting to this blog. As a reason, not an excuse, we were working on the multi-section Ask Us About Laredo series, which involves a great deal of time and effort on the part of our staff, and we've been working on our computer system, which also involves time and effort.

That said, I see that there are still a few people talking about charging for online access to print content. As I've said before, we believe it's only fair that people who want the convenience of reading Laredo Morning Times' print stories online should pay for that content, just as do subscribers to LMT's print edition and those who buy it at the news stand. We're not perfect, but we do offer unique information about Laredo and the area that you can't get anywhere else, including watchdog reports on our elected officials and vital entities, such as our school districts. We're a business and we need subscribers to stay in business and continue to do that reporting.

Now, word comes from the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch that Rupert Murdoch says his company will be charging for content at all of its news Web sites. Here's his quote: "Quality journalism is not cheap, and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalizing its ability to produce good reporting."

I do believe I said previously that you were going to see more media charging for content on their Web sites.