Early Twitter Responses to 'NYT' Pay Plan from Insiders and Media Watchers

Here are a few after the announcement, much more to come. Plus: Memo to NYT staffers from Sulzberger and Robinson via Romenesko is here.

Howard Kurtz, Washington Post: "The big Q on NYT charging, of course, is whether non-subscribers spend less time on the site to avoid paying for stuff available elsewhere."

Don Van Natta, NYT reporter, via Twitter: "The number of free articles in metered pay system coming to @nytimes in 2011 was not announced. My guess: 5 per month, no more than 10."

Dan Kennedy, longtime Boston media critic now at Northeastern, tweets: "Skeptical of NYT metered pay model, and also think it's likely to work better for them than anyone else."

Brian Stelter, NYT media writer: A 2011 start date gives us a year to build NYTimes.com into a product all of our parents, neighbors, and friends would pay for.

Andrew Golis of Yahoo News tweets: "Without price or placement details, NYT's metered pay wall is like Obama's promise to get out of Afghanistan: a decision without a decision."

NYT reporter Jodi Kantor tweets: "Finally an option for people who *want* to pay for the NYT, but who don't want a $600/year paper subscription."

David Folkenflik of NPR: "NYT spokeswoman confirms print subscribers would not have to pay extra to get online access to articles in new metered charging plan."

Farhad Manjoo, Slate writer: "I used to pay $700 a year for the NYT. I don't like the paywall, but I'm certain I'll sign up. They've got me by the ..."

Felix Salmon of Reuters: "You won't be surprised to learn I think it's a very bad idea" and added link to his analysis.

David Westphal, USC Annenberg exec, former McClatchy D.C. chief: "NY Times and Murdoch are now on the same page: We're going to charge for news online; just not right now."

David Corn, Mother Jones chief in D.C.: "I'm rooting for the NYT and its meter plan. We need a model that raises real $ for journalism. Why shouldn't the NYT try this?"

Nieman Lab: "How will the New York Times' charging online readers change its place in the news ecosystem?"

Zach Seward for Wall Streeet Journal: "Yes, it's ironic that our story on NYT charging for its site is subscription-only. But it does have exclusive info!"

Bill Mitchell of Poynter: "NYT has year to resolve #1 issue w/ its pay plan: relationship w/ its most loyal, online-only users:."

Dan Gillmor, from the Knight Center for Digital Media, via Twitter: "Why such a long lead time?"

Jay Rosen, blogger and NYU prof: "I expected this would be their call. Still studying it."