Yes, the business model is key to their success, but there's also the question of site design and info access. Here in New Orleans, the major (and only) daily as well as the network affiliate TV stations are each vying for local readership, but none has a well-designed, intuitive website. At least once a week, I try to get local news or access local classifieds on these sites, and 9 times out of 10, I throw up my hands in disgust because I can't find what I need.

It seems the problem--especially for newspapers--is resisting the temptation to post every column inch of info on their website. Rabid internet junkies might be inclined to sift through it all, but me, I can't even look at Craig's List, much less the Times-Picayune site. At the very least, they should consider a system of secondary or subdomains to make visitors feel more at ease.

If they get on the ball now, they might be able to save their classified sections before too many more folks clue in to the fact that you can do geographic searches on eBay....