It has a much better chance of success than CNN+ ever did. But it still has to convince people its work is distinctive enough to break out the credit card.
The “failing” New York Times’ news operation now employs more than 1,700 journalists, up nearly 50 percent from a decade ago. It has nearly 5 million subscribers, triple its print-era peak. Now it’s preparing to up the price.
“Ultimately, we hope that a critical mass of podcasters, hosting providers, and apps/platforms will help shape and adopt PodPass as a generative strategy to expand podcasting — creating more value for listeners and creators alike.”
Even the most digital-native publishers cannot resist the siren call of a tote bag. But a membership pitch sounds different coming from a public radio station than from a private company with a billion-dollar valuation.
New York magazine and Quartz both now want readers to pay up. How deep into their pockets will even dedicated news consumers go for a second (or third or fourth) read?
“If the Post is like Amazon, happy to sell individual slices of its vertically integrated whole, the Times is perhaps more like Apple, bringing its ethos and voice to a more diverse array of products.”
Smith, Austin. "Why do billionaires decide to buy newspapers (and why should we be happy when they do)?." Nieman Journalism Lab. Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, 29 Aug. 2018. Web. 15 Dec. 2024.
APA
Smith, A. (2018, Aug. 29). Why do billionaires decide to buy newspapers (and why should we be happy when they do)?. Nieman Journalism Lab. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/08/why-do-billionaires-decide-to-buy-newspapers-and-why-should-we-be-happy-when-they-do/
Chicago
Smith, Austin. "Why do billionaires decide to buy newspapers (and why should we be happy when they do)?." Nieman Journalism Lab. Last modified August 29, 2018. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/08/why-do-billionaires-decide-to-buy-newspapers-and-why-should-we-be-happy-when-they-do/.
Wikipedia
{{cite web
| url = https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/08/why-do-billionaires-decide-to-buy-newspapers-and-why-should-we-be-happy-when-they-do/
| title = Why do billionaires decide to buy newspapers (and why should we be happy when they do)?
| last = Smith
| first = Austin
| work = [[Nieman Journalism Lab]]
| date = 29 August 2018
| accessdate = 15 December 2024
| ref = {{harvid|Smith|2018}}
}}
