Paying for the newspaper on the Internet: The Gray Lady has pulled it off

A couple years ago I made the prediction that newspapers like The New York Times would soon be charging for their content. That prediction came to pass this year when it put up its paywall. Now if you want to read anything but the latest headlines in The Gray Lady (as The Times has historically been called by those who both love and hate it) you have to pay a subscription. Since The Times is seen as an industry bell weather, as more people opt to pay for its content, other newspapers and magazines are following its lead.

Gradually, over the next few years, the amount of reliable information for free over the Internet will diminish.

While this may be seen as bad news for the average online browser, it is actually a good thing. For the past decade, newspapers and periodicals have seen their profits erode as more and more people canceled paid subscriptions in favor of accessing information online for free. Yet, newspaper and magazine reporters, editors and photographers still expected to be paid.

Initially news and feature publications thought advertising would pay their overhead. But that didn't work because display and pay-per-click ads never generated anywhere near the amount required to keep them in business.

So now, as we travel back to the past, we will need to once again start choosing which publications we are willing to pay to access.

Personally if the choice is between paying to read my favorite newspapers and periodicals or to see them go out of business, I'll choose to pay.

The same is true for books. On occasion I may choose to download an ebook or audio book over a printed version, but I do expect to pay for the books I read.

Once all the best content is locked behind a paywall, what will be left on the Internet? Shopping, blogs, websites, email, etc. All manner of items people are willing to share for free. The Internet will remain free. Just don't expect authors, writers reporters and photographers to work for free. What we once willingly paid for we should once again support. Do we actually think that content should be free? If someone comes to our home to fix the plumbing we expect to pay. Same as when we go to the theater, see a concert or visit the zoo. When we receive a service we compensate those who provide it. Same for books, newspapers and periodicals.

When someone provides us with a service we reciprocate by paying. As the old saying goes, "ain't no such thing as a free lunch."

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

This short motivational video provides an important lesson for all us humans who sometimes fail.

"Bookish" just another crazy idea from drowning publishers?

The problem for the largest book publishers is that their control over the book market is waning. If predictions are correct, and the book industry follows the music industry, pretty soon it will be nearly impossible to find a full-service bookstore with a deep selection. A decade ago there used to be record stores with thousands of recordings to peruse. But those days are over. Long gone are major chains like Sam Goody and Tower Records. In their place are online sellers like Amazon and digital download applications like iTunes.

As a result the major book publishers are scared. Borders Books has declared bankruptcy, can Barnes and Noble be far behind? Not to mention the local independent bookseller.

Their solution, coming this summer, is Bookish. A place where book publishers, authors and readers can get together. On its surface, it would seem to be a good idea. But is it?




So far there are three major publishers involved: Simon and Schuster, Penguin Group and Hachette Book Group (Random House). They have not indicated whether the website will be open to all publishers, large and small, or just the major publishers. If they open the site to every publisher and it is well organized and easy to navigate—and fair to all—it could just work. But can a tiger change its stripes? The large multinational publishers have not demonstrated any inclination to work with others over the years. In fact, they have done their best to intentionally keep the playing field anything but level.

Going back to the music business. At one time, there were a handful of major record labels who controlled the sales and distribution of records. As a result they could pick which artists the public listened to and which records were purchased. But that all changed with the dawning of the Internet age and with it the ability for musicians to reach the public directly. The music business changed and the major record labels were left behind.

Will what happened to the major record labels happen to the large book publishers?

The very thought is keeping big publishers awake at night.

But, how do the major publishers suddenly begin cooperating when they have fought, tooth and nail, for so long to keep their grip over the distribution and sale of books? And do they allow other lesser-known small publishers a seat at the table when they have been instrumental in keeping they out of many of the markets?

What will happen with this latest initiative is unknown. But unless they open it up for all publishers and all authors, it will just be one more lame attempt at protecting something that will surely slip out of their grasp anyway.