Please Pay for Your News • Hacker News Board

Re: Please Pay for Your News

#121

Post by cercatrova » Mon, Jun 01, 2020, 9:57 PM UTC

egonschiele wrote: post #117

cercatrova wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, yes. Even as the parent poster says that this isn't their argument, let us assume it is. Why would I pay for something if it doesn't fit my needs? I don't see other merchants think they're entitled to my sale.

So just to be clear, the choices on the table are, 1. Let the news die. 2. Pay for the news, suck up the fact that it isn't exactly what you want it to be. 3. Don't pay for the news and hope the rest of us pay for it so it doesn't die. If you see another choice please let me know.

I'd pick 1. I don't believe news is some sacred service that must exist. Of course, if it were, the government could provide it, but it might cause issues with independence of state and the people, depending on the type of government. So, it's a service based on the free market, thus it must compete on the free market, no?

It seems like you believe that news is sacred, so your conclusions will differ from mine as we draw from different axiomatic beliefs. If that's the case, we won't be able to convince each other.

Re: Please Pay for Your News

#122

Post by egonschiele » Mon, Jun 01, 2020, 11:32 PM UTC

c22 wrote: post #119

egonschiele wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This concept is not new, it's called Tragedy of the Commons ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons ). Basically, everyone wants something and no one wants to pay for it.

I'm familiar with the trope, but "news" is not some finite resource we might accidentally use up, so that wouldn't seem to apply here. Perhaps no one is currently willing to pay for it because (a) they don't have to and (b) a lot of it is utter garbage. It doesn't stand that should these "options" disappear other ones wouldn't take their place, perhaps even ones worth paying for.

Terrific, you're welcome to not pay for the news and not read it then. Getting NO information must be the better option if what you are saying is true. People have spent their lives doing this job, but surely you know better.

Re: Please Pay for Your News

#123

Post by quadrangle » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 8:41 PM UTC

egonschiele wrote: post #34

quadrangle wrote: post #14

As difficult as this trade-off for business is, I prefer to financially support journalism that isn't compromising its values by using third-party ads. The journalism that rejects advertising is the virtuous journalism that most deserves our dollars.

In that case, how do you support journalism?

I support ad-free journalism, such as Democracy Now or journalism organizations like the Freedom of the Press Foundation. I haven't actually done all the homework I'd like to do in order to identify an ideal list of all the journalism (particularly local!) that is at least as good as I can find.

I didn't mean to suggest that we should insist on ad-free before donating at all, but it's a concern. I'm more inclined to donate when there's no ads, and when there are ads, I'm extra hesitant.

I also don't like paywalls. So, really, I'm thinking about how to highlight and support the free-to-all work that is also uncompromised by ads. That's what most deserves and needs support.