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The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

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Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#21

Post by Legogris »

hootbootscoot wrote: post #16
makomk wrote: post #13

I think a more accurate description is that the elite narrative is paywalled but the one for the proles is free - and the elite are absolutely convinced their narrative is the truth. The contents of, say, New York Times or Washington Post reporting on the state of US Covid-19 testing and contact tracing and how it compares to the rest of the world, the evidence on mask wearing, or anything to do with Trump or protest…

I highly disagree. Rupert Murdoch is surely one of the most elite of the elites and his vast media empire has managed to brainwash certain folks into calling his vision "populism" due strictly to his outreach efforts. It would also appear that you didn't read the article, as your point is not the topic of the article. The article is about copyright law running counter to information accessibility, running counter to…

I wouldn't necessarily assume that the truth as presented by Murdoch's media empire is the same as the truth as understood by Rupert Murdoch.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#23

Post by raziel2p »

HPsquared wrote: post #15

I'd like more microtransactions and would gladly pay a few cents or even a dollar to read a good article. The business model is to bundle everything together, for a long subscription - most want at least a month, perhaps a year, full subscription.

How do you know it's a good article before you read it, though? Articles aren't (and shouldn't) be produced like movies, video games or books, with marketing budgets and hype.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#24

Post by rawfan »

thewhitetulip wrote: post #20
Havoc wrote: post #9

Are there some sort of bundle subscriptions available? Buy all of that stuff separately won’t be cheap

even if there were a bundle of that, people'll still find a way to complain about it and they'd still not want to pay for news.

People always complain. A significant amount of people happily pays for Netflix and its likes, though.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#25

Post by makomk »

hootbootscoot wrote: post #16
makomk wrote: post #13

I think a more accurate description is that the elite narrative is paywalled but the one for the proles is free - and the elite are absolutely convinced their narrative is the truth. The contents of, say, New York Times or Washington Post reporting on the state of US Covid-19 testing and contact tracing and how it compares to the rest of the world, the evidence on mask wearing, or anything to do with Trump or protest…

I highly disagree. Rupert Murdoch is surely one of the most elite of the elites and his vast media empire has managed to brainwash certain folks into calling his vision "populism" due strictly to his outreach efforts. It would also appear that you didn't read the article, as your point is not the topic of the article. The article is about copyright law running counter to information accessibility, running counter to…

There's a reason I described the other narrative as "for the proles" and not "by the proles", you know... and the "truth" side having a business model that puts economic and convenience barriers in the way of access, so that only the people who really want to use it as their source of information and are willing to put up time and money to do so read it is a great way of turning that side into an elite thing.

Also, thinking about this some more, that particular bogus fact is probably an interesting counter-example to the rest of the article too. All the information required to debunk that claim about South Korean vs US coronavirus testing was and still is publicly available for free in English, and there were and still are really convenient sites aggregating it unobstructed by barriers like copyright. Everyone in the know believed the bogus elite-narrative claim anyway.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#26

Post by Clomez »

lambdadmitry wrote: post #12
ferros wrote: post #3

I would be willing to pay an amount for better quality news than what can be found for free, however news outlets always seem to lean one way. I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction.

The FT should serve you well.

This is what i have concluded too. I was in similar position where i found that what ever i read it always seemed biased. FT has been very good.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#28

Post by raxxorrax »

lm28469 wrote: post #14
ferros wrote: post #3

I would be willing to pay an amount for better quality news than what can be found for free, however news outlets always seem to lean one way. I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction.

> I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction. No one on this planet is 100% unbiased. It doesn't matter if it's free or $100 per article, it's still written by a human being with personal opinions, experiences, prejudices, &c. The easiest way to get close to the "truth", which is subjective in many cases anyways, is to read from many sources and cross check the facts between them.

Even if that kind of neutrality is not achievable it has been practiced by journalists for the longest time and they tried their best.

Should we forego every trial because no judge can be impartial? The argument is lacking.

That impartiality doesn't lead to economic success and sustainability for outlets is another story of course.

Cross checking is required even if journalists wouldn't be as active in framing stories of course.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#29

Post by quietbritishjim »

ferros wrote: post #3

I would be willing to pay an amount for better quality news than what can be found for free, however news outlets always seem to lean one way. I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction.

One compromise is to find a news source that is at least open about its bias. The Economist is a famous example of this: it will openly declare support (and opposition) for particular political candidates and policies.

Re: The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free

#30

Post by DarkWiiPlayer »

lm28469 wrote: post #14
ferros wrote: post #3

I would be willing to pay an amount for better quality news than what can be found for free, however news outlets always seem to lean one way. I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction.

> I want somebody to just report and not tilt it in one direction. No one on this planet is 100% unbiased. It doesn't matter if it's free or $100 per article, it's still written by a human being with personal opinions, experiences, prejudices, &c. The easiest way to get close to the "truth", which is subjective in many cases anyways, is to read from many sources and cross check the facts between them.

Numbers are objective, and all too often I see them manipulated in rather creative ways to paint a picture. It is certainly possible to present the hard numbers of a scientific paper as an easily digestible article without picking out only the more convenient ones.

> No one is 100% unbiased

No, and every journalist should know that and keep their own bias in mind when writing. One can have an opinion and still present a plausible alternative.

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