Ask HN: Why don't you pay for a news website subscription?
Recently on HN @typpo showcased a slick Chrome extension to identify and shame -- fair diction, I think -- websites that show native ads. [1]
ABP, AdDetector. Every stab at making journalism faintly economically productive seems to meet with at least some measure of backlash.
Do you pay for news content? Why or why not?
[1] http://www.ianww.com/ad-detector/
7 comments
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In answer to the question, yes I pay annually for original analysis of current and historical events.
Maybe the difference is that I see news as temporary. Once I read it I want newer information, not really to go back to old news. Certain long form articles I bookmark but I find I rarely even go back to those. With TV Shows and Movies I can always go back and get some enjoyment from re-watching. Maybe the news doesn't have that lasting value that I feel justifies spending that I do for other forms of medium of information such as books.
I think for me to pay for news it has to not be easily reproduced by someone else. You just can't easily make a similar hit sitcom or breaking bad as can others retell what is happening in the world. Though I do want my news to be written and told by professional objective individuals I haven't been able to find a model that gets me to pay yet.
EDITs for grammar.