[masterof0]

Nobody is forcing people who want to pay, to not pay. Most news papers make more or their money from advertisers, promotions, and such sources.

[bashinator]

The New York Times makes considerably more money from subscription services than from advertising. That's a recent (last ten-fifteen years) pivot.

[soco]

Journalist != newspaper.

[masterof0]

if the journalist works for the newspaper, then the dichotomy falls apart. Journalists that are independent can use platforms like Substack, where their readers would pay them.