The Wall Street Journal was the only newspaper to turn a profit in 2009 according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism “State of the News Media 2010” report, and the newspaper's unique online content payment plan may be a big part of that success. Regular readers are able to view the website's content, but subscribers are given access to special features. A payment of 79 dollars a year grants subscribers personal notifications about news updates, and customization of their Wall Street Journal front page and Market Data Center. Rupert Murdoch made comments about utilizing this system on the websites for the rest of his newspapers, but has not put the plan into action yet.
By getting its dedicated readership to pony up a yearly, or even weekly, subscription, The Wall Street Journal offers its content with minimal advertising. Other than the tastefully sized ad near the top, it actually took me quite a bit of looking around to find others . Their “Partner Center”, where tiny advertisements are displayed near the bottom of the front page, shows a healthy respect for the reader's desire to view news instead of advertisements. The single image ad and three tiny “Google type” ads on every story aren't a massive eyesore either, especially compared to the ads that litter every page of The New York Times website and the pop ups spawned by The Washington Times home page.
News organizations wary of disowning ink and paper can be given hope by the success of The Wall Street Journal's website, and the fact that the website remains a viable asset without being crammed with tacky ads. The slow transition from a paper/online model to an online only model may be starting sooner than we anticipate, but will this have damaging effects on our democratic society? Probably not.
The fear of internet users surrounding themselves with nothing but content that favors their point of views has been proven false about 6 years ago by the Pew Research Center. According to the data, people reliant on the internet for news are more knowledgeable about various political viewpoints than those who favor newspapers, radio or television. With lively discussions going on under many articles online, a reader has to be well informed if they want to make a well met contribution. Since the internet is more depended on for news than radio and newspapers, only being outdone by television, it certainly seems that the online community has been doing its part to invigorate political debate.
Some may argue that certain groups, senior citizens in particular, will be left uninformed by the disappearance of newspapers. The truth is, 28% of seniors 70 and older were already using the internet in 2006. Out of those without internet ready computers, only 13% claimed that they were too old to learn how to use one according to a 1998 SeniorNet study. This means that most seniors are willing and able to learn how to use computers, and become fully able to read the news online if they needed to. New research also indicates that doing so instead of just switching over to television will make seniors happier and assist with their mental function.
If it does happen, the eventual demise of printed news will create upheaval in certain industries reliant on newspaper production for revenue. It won't all be good news. But I'm sure horse breeders weren't exactly thrilled to hear about the Model-T. As far its effects on the spirit of democracies across the world, the rise of internet news seems like it will bring mostly positive change.
"How am I going to feed my children? Selling horses is all I know!"
No comments:
Post a Comment