This just isn't true. There is no way subs will ever pay for the news ecosystem that ads once supported. Subs help, but the problem goes way deeper. At best, subs are likely to only support a few key brands at the scale needed. It doesn't solve the problem. A couple of other pts.
If you're going to demand people pay directly, you also have to expect them to criticise directly. Lots of the complaining comes from people who pay and expect a decent product in return.
When they don't get it, of course they'll complain. What other product do we demand people pay for while we wait for it to get better? There are only really a couple of options:
either govts treat journalism as a public good and fund it in the way that they fund health or education. Or, we force Google and Facebook share their ad revenue with publishers. Both are hugely problematic, but they are the only answers.
Demanding the audience pay for news isn't going to help because it isn't the answer: it doesn't solve the problem, and most people know it, which is why many freeride. Why throw good money after bad?
It is a structural problem borne of digitisation and so that's how we have to approach it. I say this while acknowledging all the difficulties and unfairness you mention. But individuals paying for news isn't the answer.
There are only really two options: either govts treat journalism as a public good and fund it in the way that they fund health or education. Or, we force Google and Facebook share their ad revenue with publishers. Both are hugely problematic, but they are the only answers.
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either govts treat journalism as a public good and fund it in the way that they fund health or education. Or, we force Google and Facebook share their ad revenue with publishers. Both are hugely problematic, but they are the only answers.
Demanding the audience pay for news isn't going to help because it isn't the answer: it doesn't solve the problem, and most people know it, which is why many freeride. Why throw good money after bad?
2 replies 1 retweet 1 like
2 replies 1 retweet 1 like
It is a structural problem borne of digitisation and so that's how we have to approach it. I say this while acknowledging all the difficulties and unfairness you mention. But individuals paying for news isn't the answer.
unroll
