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Monday, Jun 22nd, 2009 ↓
The Micropayments Are Coming: That sounds pretty interesting. Just to be clear, I think it would be madness for newspapers to try and put everything back behind a pay wall. The most likely model to emerge is a hybrid one where I continue to enjoy a lot of free content and the conversations that exist around that content, but when I want to go deeper or consume richer content then *sometimes* I should expect to pay a small amount for it. After years of getting it for free on the Web, it won’t be easy for publishers to start charging for even some of their content but there may be no choice. Personally, I am willing to pay a small amount to make sure that I am properly informed, and although I think citizen media is often quicker than traditional media I still want to live in a world where there are professional - and accountable - news organisations. I know this is not a view that everyone will subscribe to, but it’s not clear how else news media in particular will be able to remain in business. The answer is almost certainly a bit of everything: Ecommerce - newspapers and magazines already sell directly to their readers, but could do a lot more of this, including providing more paid-for online services. The role of online community in this is obvious Micropayments and subscription - along the lines envisaged by Journalism Online Advertising and sponsorship - an important but smaller part of the mix Anyway - these are my half-formed thoughts. I’m willing to be persuaded either way. I’ve also heard that the new iPhone SDK makes it easy for developers to build micropayments into the apps they make. Not sure if this is true but does this hold out the tantalising possibility that the iPhone and iTunes could be the digital wallet we’re all waiting for? I already find it a bit too easy to spend money on iTunes!
The Micropayments Are Coming:

That sounds pretty interesting.

Just to be clear, I think it would be madness for newspapers to try and put everything back behind a pay wall. The most likely model to emerge is a hybrid one where I continue to enjoy a lot of free content and the conversations that exist around that content, but when I want to go deeper or consume richer content then *sometimes* I should expect to pay a small amount for it.

After years of getting it for free on the Web, it won’t be easy for publishers to start charging for even some of their content but there may be no choice. Personally, I am willing to pay a small amount to make sure that I am properly informed, and although I think citizen media is often quicker than traditional media I still want to live in a world where there are professional - and accountable - news organisations. I know this is not a view that everyone will subscribe to, but it’s not clear how else news media in particular will be able to remain in business.

The answer is almost certainly a bit of everything:

  • Ecommerce - newspapers and magazines already sell directly to their readers, but could do a lot more of this, including providing more paid-for online services. The role of online community in this is obvious
  • Micropayments and subscription - along the lines envisaged by Journalism Online
  • Advertising and sponsorship - an important but smaller part of the mix

Anyway - these are my half-formed thoughts. I’m willing to be persuaded either way. I’ve also heard that the new iPhone SDK makes it easy for developers to build micropayments into the apps they make. Not sure if this is true but does this hold out the tantalising possibility that the iPhone and iTunes could be the digital wallet we’re all waiting for? I already find it a bit too easy to spend money on iTunes!