Given that so much of the MSM is controlled by the like of people like Murdoch, it makes it even more important that independent online sites continue.

New Matilda has gone and WD is only a shadow of its former self, so the importance of OLO and other smaller, independent blogs has increased. Australian citizens must be allowed to continue to discuss issues relevant to our lives even if there is much disagreement on most subjects.

As to charging, NM tried it, dropped it, and still went out backwards. There are so many free blogs that it may not appeal to most people.

Good luck Graham with the revamp, and best wishes to Susan, who has done a great job.

Like other here I'd be happy to pay a modest subscription, though I'd be sad to lose the contributions from occassional visitors to the forum pages - the regulars do tend to make the same points over again (me included, I confess).

On Line Opinion, says it all really - a very good site. I hope they sort it out.

David G, it looks like New Matilda is coming back too:

http://newmatilda.com/2010/10/08/did-you-miss-us-new-matilda-way-back

Second post - you also need some off site advertising. You wouldn't believe the number of (intelligent) people I have spoken to about OLO, and they have never heard of you. Admittedly I live in Adelaide. Still ! Run articles that get 100 comments, then write up a media release about the controversy to be discovered at the OLO web site. Write up a media release describing how many controversies,issues and authors are to be found at OLO. Run a competition with the prize being "dinner with Graham and Susan". (Competition could be for the zaniest mid-city media-attracting PR stunt in every major city. For the prize, you'll just have to fly around, but I'm sure you'd get folk to drive you to and from airports and put you up overnight, and such like.) Run a competition in every major campus for the best articles on such and such a topic. Prize to be the guest editorship of OLO for one week, under guidance of course. Advertise for two interns - you'll teach them the editorial world in return for their labour power. While this would never replace Susan, it would lighten her load a bit, and make life more fun in the process. More as it occurs to me.

OK - First, figure out a salary package that will keep Susan with OLO. Second, address the issue of how to raise the money to pay everyone whose work contributes to OLO's existence. Rather than charging a sub, maybe work on the idea of 'added value' areas that people will be happy to pay for.I suggest grouping articles into topic bunches, and providing on CD under the over-arching topic. For example, all articles on the environment, all articles on education, all articles on law and the court system, all articles on religious issues, all articles on family issues, etc. Run conferences (maybe simultaneously in each capital city) on the same topics, and make it necessary for speakers to have addressed all the previously published articles in that area.
Charge $20 per CD, and include a 'free CD' for all conference attendees. Don't get into the hospitality area - have nice old-fashioned conferences where visitors can bunk down in houses of friends. This means that available cash can go to OLO. Charge about $80, and provide big print name tags and 2-3 social hours where people can mingle. Have other items available for purchase at the conference venue. Work out what will sell readily. Include a couple of 'open' sessions for discussion from the floor. Consider 2-3 films relevant to topic - and charge entry per film. - well that's a start. I'm sure I could think of more if I had more time, but I've got to do other things right now.

All the best to Susan Prior, who did a superb editing job. And best of luck with the next iteration...