How Consumer Reports takes on companies
Devin Leonard of Bloomberg Businessweek writes in the latest issue about Consumer Reports magazine, which in the past few months has taken on both Toyota and Apple and won. Leonard writes, “By the late ’90s, however, consumer appetites had moved beyond the utilitarian to Lexuses and stainless steel six-burner “professional grade” Viking stoves. Consumer Reports […]
Consumer Reports releases paid mobile service
David Kaplan of PaidContent.org reports that Consumer Reports has released a paid mobile service that offers its take on products and services. Kaplan writes, “The new service is free to the roughly 3.2 million ConsumerReports.org subs who paid the $26 annual fee (or at least the $5.95 single month charge). Non-subs can sign up for […]
Consumer Reports uses ad to get message across
Richard Perez-Pena of the New York Times writes Monday about how Consumer Reports magazine has advertised, for the fourth consecutive year, in newspapers about the traps of Christmas shopping. Perez-Pena writes, “The new ad, appearing in USA Today, says, ‘It’s time we told retailers how you feel about their pushy holiday-season practices.’ Then it cites […]
Consumer Reports face layoffs unless pay cuts made
Paul Tharp of the New York Post writes Thursday that editors and writers at Consumer Reports face potential layoffs unless they take a pay cut. Tharp writes, “Up to 21 writers, editors, researchers and scientists who test products are among those targeted for layoffs unless unionized workers of the New York Newspaper Guild agree by […]
Consumer Reports seeks consumer input
Brian Stelter of the New York Times reports Monday about how Consumer Reports magazine recently sought advice from its readers on the design of its covers, the size of headlines and even the color of logos. Stelter writes, “For its part, Consumer Reports stressed that in surveys — which were conducted for a series of […]
Pay sites can work
Jack Shafer of Slate writes about the pay model for online news and information and notes that some of the most successful ventures in this area have been in business and consumer journalism. Shafer writes, “Wildly unique and immensely useful describes the paid site ConsumerReports.org. If you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, […]
Consumer Reports to acquire Consumerist site
Stephanie Clifford of the New York Times reports Wednesday that Consumer Reports has agreed to acquire the Consumerist site for an undisclosed price. Clifford reports, “In buying Consumerist, Consumers Union is seeking to attract younger readers, with the hope of eventually selling them online or print subscriptions to Consumer Reports. “It is also something of […]
Consumer Reports in talks to acquire Consumerist site
Hunter Walker of FishbowlNY reports that Consumer Reports has held talks to acquire the Consumerist Web site. Walker writes, “A meeting was held yesterday between visiting executives and top Gawker management — including Consumerist editor Ben Popken — while Ken Weine, a spokesman for Consumer Reports‘ parent company Consumer Union, told FishbowlNY this afternoon that […]
Consumer Reports begins ad campaign
Richard Perez-Pena of the New York Times writes Monday about the new advertising campaign for Consumer Reports, which traditionally has done little or no advertising. And the ads have a target — extended warranties on new cars. Perez-Pena wrote, “Kenneth Weine, a vice president of Consumers Union, said the ad campaign is a way to […]
Success in charging for online content
Richard Perez-Pena of The New York Times writes Saturday about the success of ConsumerReports.org — it has 3 million paid subscribers — at a time when it’s becoming apparent that The Wall Street Journal will drop its 1 million paid online subscribers and make its site free. Perez-Pena wrote, “Subscriptions to the magazine still produce the […]
