Knoxville News Sentinel no longer requires registration?

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2006/04/14 - 8:07am.

Per Justin in comments below, it appears the Knoxville News Sentinel website no longer requires registration to access/read news articles. I just tried it by logging out and deleting all my Knoxnews cookies, and it appears you are able to access articles without being registered.

There's no official announcement or any mention at Michael Silence or on McElroy's blog. I'll try to get confirmation. Hopefully it's a permanent change. If so, the KNS has made a smart decision.

UPDATE: The KNS is apparently declining any official response or announcement. Instead, I was directed to this. I suspected it might be some kind of experiment or trial run, because they were being so quiet about it.

I can sort of see not wanting to make a big deal about it for fear of admitting a mistake or seeming to back down in the face of complaints from, you know, readers. And I can see why they might want people to think they still need to register so they get more names in their database. But if you don't tell anybody about a change, how can you measure the effect of the change? And why wouldn't you want to promote the fact that you made a positive change based on reader feedback? Weird. Anyway, I hope their experiment works and this remains a permanent change. Bloggers can help by linking to lots of articles at KNS.

UPDATE: Michael Silence got an official response from the General Manager of Interactive Media for Scripps.

10
vote

I always wonder why some

I always wonder why some sites even bother. I dont know anyone who actually gives a web site their real personal information. Anyone else use Mozilla w/the bugmenot extension?

Anyone else use Mozilla

Anyone else use Mozilla w/the bugmenot extension?

Sure do.

Does anybody actually pay to read sports online?

The KNS rag is the only newspaper in the state of tennessee that requires you to pay monthly to read GoVolsExtra, which is nothing more than ongoing amateurish sportswriting, lightyears behind the sports departments of the Tennessee and the Times Free Press in Chattanooga.  I can't think of another paper that has such little credibility and little relevance in a medium sized city like Knoxville.  The Memphis paper which is also owned by KNS parent Scripps Howard is much more well written and well edited that the KNS really looks like a journalism school experiment as to how not to run a newspaper and build credibility in a community.  So far this year, I've received 5 free Sunday editions while they attempt to pump up declining circulation figures.

Registration evolution at Scripps sites

This is probably the detailed explanation of the registration experiments that R. Neal (and others noticed).

This was posted by Jay Small, who lives in Knoxville and is E.W. Scripps' Director of Online Audience and Operations, Interactive Newspapers.

http://smallinitiatives.com/2006/04/19/registration-evolution-at-scripps-sites/

You can get a bugmenot

for Mozilla???? How? Where?

For the most part, I'm "Gern Blanston" from "Pleasantville, Iowa" on websites. Oh, and I'm an 85 year old male software engineer.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.

More information about formatting options

Captcha
This question is used to make sure you are a human visitor and to prevent spam submissions.
Copy the characters (respecting upper/lower case) from the image.
Blog-O-Rama

Bela Fleck's Star Spangled Banner
(Cup of Joe Powell)

Kingston's Going to Smoke the Ash Spill Today
(Enclave)

What I Learned In The News This Week
(Newscoma)

There Can Only Be One
(Newscoma)

Sarah Palin - Train Wrecks Get Top Ratings
(Cup of Joe Powell)

Play Her Off, Keyboard Cat
(Southern Beale)

Feel Good Independence Day
(Silence Isn't Golden)

The Sicko Attacks on Sarah Palin's Baby
(TN Guerilla Women)

KNS: Ash to be Dumped in Loudon?
(RoaneViews)

Jump!
(Domestic Psychology)

Now she 's done it, now I have to go nuclear!
(Left Wing Cracker)

Palin's Resignation: Political Masterstroke Or Extreme Mental Instability of a Castrating Bitch?
(TN Guerilla Women)

Innocent Blogging Fun
(Newscoma)

Scott McNutt cuts to the truth...
(RoaneViews)

Harriman Care and Rehab in the News
(RoaneViews)


Media Blogs

AG: Political Firings Could Have Fiscal Impact on Counties
(Tom Humphrey)

Happy Fourth of July
(Michael Silence)

Happy
(Michael Silence)

This is a joke, right? Top 25 sports outings in TN
(Michael Silence)

Just curious
(Michael Silence)

Memo to the Republican Governors Association
(Michael Silence)

Son of Big Box
(Josh Flory)

TVA Tries Sending Inspection Reports Directly to Landfills
(Snark Bites)

The Wa$hington Po$t
(Michael Silence)

Chapter 11 for condo developer
(Josh Flory)

Gone Fishin': Pith is Off Today
(Pith in the Wind)

Thoughts On Kyle's Kinda, Sorta Kickoff for Governor
(Tom Humphrey)

Bredesen Lectures Legislators on License Plates -- Again
(Tom Humphrey)

Robin Has a Website
(Tom Humphrey)

Cobb Successor To Be Elected on Oct. 13
(Tom Humphrey)


Post Politics

Proving Her Critics Right
(AC Kleinheider)

Makes As Much Sense As Anything I’ve Heard Yet
(AC Kleinheider)

Resigned On The 3rd Of July: Sarah Palin Steps Down As Governor
(AC Kleinheider)

Like He Never Existed
(AC Kleinheider)

You’re Light, Son
(AC Kleinheider)

Can Jim Kyle Win The Democratic Nomination For Governor?
(AC Kleinheider)

Shout Out To Tuke
(AC Kleinheider)

Alexander Wishes You A Happy Independence Day
(AC Kleinheider)

Cammack, North Of Two Hundie
(AC Kleinheider)

Ford Dynasty Member Says He’ll Make A Run At Memphis Mayor
(AC Kleinheider)


Local News

Woman dies in wreck on Chapman Highway
(Knoxville News Sentinel)

Drownings reminder to use pool alarms, gates and buddies
(Knoxville News Sentinel)

TWRA plans extra boat patrols
(Knoxville News Sentinel)

Father's fraud followed son's debt woes
(Knoxville News Sentinel)

Lockett is subject of 3 investigations
(Knoxville News Sentinel)

Downtown condo developer files bankruptcy
(Knoxville News Sentinel Business)

Auto fallout still felt locally
(Knoxville News Sentinel Business)

Loudon residents fight against ash disposal
(Knoxville News Sentinel Business)

Hospital management at issue in Claiborne County
(Knoxville News Sentinel Business)

Tazewell hospital proposals to be heard Monday
(Knoxville News Sentinel Business)

Governor Bredesen Issues Writ of Election
(State of Tennessee)

Bredesen Breaks Ground on Recovery Act Project in Nashville
(State of Tennessee)

Extended Unemployment Benefits Available for Eligible Tennesseans
(State of Tennessee)

THP Gears Up For July 4th Weekend Crackdown on Drunk Drivers
(State of Tennessee)

Tennessee Announces 2009-10 School Meal Guidelines
(State of Tennessee)

Some East Tennesseans celebrate independence with tea parties
(WATE local)

Blount County K-9 officer loses battle with cancer
(WATE local)

Deadly Knoxville shooting and police pursuit ends in crash
(WATE local)

Stripper upset kidnapping, rape charges were dropped
(WATE local)

Family's gas grill explodes catching house on fire
(WATE local)

DEVELOPING: Fmr. Titans quarterback Steve McNair found dead in murder-suicide
(WBIR Local)

Joey Chestnut's 68 hot dogs win third straight eating contest
(WBIR Local)

Update: Victim dies after Friday afternoon shooting
(WBIR Local)

Teacher trainees get more face time with students
(WBIR Local)

Dandridge woman dies in Sevier Co. car crash
(WBIR Local)

Beefing up patrols on Tennessee highways
(WVLT Local)

Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president
(WVLT Local)

SKorea says NKorea fires 2 missiles off east coast
(WVLT Local)

Flames engulf boat on Fort Loudoun Lake
(WVLT Local)

Kyle says gubernatorial race decision coming soon
(WVLT Local)


Wire Reports

Analysis: Palin's resignation raises questions (AP)
(AP Politics)

Curious Russia prepares to welcome Obama (AFP)
(AP Politics)

Coroner: Teen 5th killed by apparent serial killer (AP)
(AP National News)

Europe's free, state-run health care has drawbacks (AP)
(AP Politics)

Chestnut wins NY hot dog eating match, again (AP)
(AP National News)

Calif. bullet train hits criticism on SF Peninsula (AP)
(AP National News)

Fireworks explosion on NC island kills 1, hurts 4 (AP)
(AP National News)

Soldier who fought in pink boxers home for 4th (AP)
(AP National News)

Obama's trip: 3 more countries, 1 broad mission (AP)
(AP Politics)

Palin keeps low-profile after surprise news (AP)
(AP National News)

Police: Arizona woman led sons on crime spree (AP)
(AP National News)

U.S. hopes Obama's visit to Ghana will spur others (Reuters)
(AP Politics)

Russia to grant U.S. Afghan supply route (Reuters)
(AP Politics)

Night of barbecue, fireworks on tap at White House (AP)
(AP Politics)

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Archives' many missing items (AP)
(AP Politics)

60 votes not so super for Obama, Senate Democrats (AP)
(AP Politics)

Offensive is first test for Obama's Afghanistan strategy (AFP)
(AP Politics)

Palin shocker a boon to her lieutenant (Politico)
(AP Politics)

Colin Powell cautions Obama on big government (AP)
(AP Politics)

Colin Powell: Celebrate Michael Jackson's art (AP)
(AP Politics)