[firefoxd]

I wish paying for news would actually make news organizations prosper. But subscription only slightly help. Looking at past revenue of the LA times, subscribers accounted for under 20% of revenue [1]. The remaining 80% was from advertising.

If we all subscribe to 3 or 4 papers right now, the best thing they can do for their business is bombard us with ads to make up for the remaining percentage. Well, we have adblockers now so it doesn't work.

I don't know what the solution is. Journalism that holds people accountable is crucial for society. But customers paying for the news doesn't work. It never did.

[1]: https://idiallo.com/blog/we-never-paid-for-journalism

[0goel0]

Author here: I don't think publications or journalists like ads themselves. However, if not enough subscription revenue is flowing in, they are going to have to use what's worked for them (but not for readers).

This is very much a bootstrapping problem. They need money and stability, and public support, to make the investments that would make the public support them.

I think the stakes are high enough for us to bicker about chicken and egg.