For Thursday, September 26, 2013, here are some media stories of note:
Rem Rieder, the media columnist (now features editor) of USA Today, examines the need for philanthropic support for non-profit journalism in an age of for-profit cuts. He concludes that many non-profits will not become self-sustaining but that they will be needed (and needed to be supported) in an age of strained journalistic resources.
Alan Mutter, in his latest post for Reflections of a Newsosaur, questions the viability of online paywalls. He looks at the data and concludes precious few are paying and that "publishers counting on an enthusiastic reception for paid digital news may want to recalibrate their expectations." Meantime, the digital chief for The Nation writes on its new experiment with paywalls. Katelyn Belyus notes that the financial viability is essential to furthering its editorial mission and that its readers and not its advertisers count first.
Gerald Baker, the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, describes native advertising as a "Faustian pact" publishers make with advertisers that will not work. He believes sponsored content confuses readers, which ultimately diminishes their trust, which in turn defeats the purpose of the content commingling with journalism. He thinks it's a phase that will run its course.
Rem Rieder, the media columnist (now features editor) of USA Today, examines the need for philanthropic support for non-profit journalism in an age of for-profit cuts. He concludes that many non-profits will not become self-sustaining but that they will be needed (and needed to be supported) in an age of strained journalistic resources.
Alan Mutter, in his latest post for Reflections of a Newsosaur, questions the viability of online paywalls. He looks at the data and concludes precious few are paying and that "publishers counting on an enthusiastic reception for paid digital news may want to recalibrate their expectations." Meantime, the digital chief for The Nation writes on its new experiment with paywalls. Katelyn Belyus notes that the financial viability is essential to furthering its editorial mission and that its readers and not its advertisers count first.
Gerald Baker, the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, describes native advertising as a "Faustian pact" publishers make with advertisers that will not work. He believes sponsored content confuses readers, which ultimately diminishes their trust, which in turn defeats the purpose of the content commingling with journalism. He thinks it's a phase that will run its course.
