The Affect of Paywalls on Australian Newspapers

Based off the Introduction to Journalism and Communications lectures given by Dr Bruce Redman at the University of Queensland, St Lucia.

Paywalls are becoming more and more common in Australian online  newspapers. But what is a paywall? It’s nearly all there in the name. Basically, when you go to view an article on a particular news site you are blocked from viewing the content (generally except for the title and the first paragraph) until you sign in as a member. The catch: to be a member you have to pay them a monthly or yearly fee. Generally, online news tries to sweeten the deal by providing members with the first knowledge on deals, and occasionally sending them freebies or coupons. The Australian has already implemented paywalls on its articles and The Herald Sun in Melbourne  will be doing so this month. There has been some speculation about whether online news sites will survive the advent of paywalls, as it can cause regular viewer numbers to decline. Although The Australian has yet to release any figures on it’s earnings from the paywall, common conjecture is that it is not doing well.

The only problem with online newspapers
is that the page can look too cluttered.

From what I understand of paywalls, both
from lectures and a little further research, the Herald Sun has a far better chance of succeeding. The Herald Sun does quite well off it’s football announcements, listings, etc, as well as the production of localised content, and they expect most readers to be fine with paying online for this content, which they’re marketing as more convenient and up-to-date when online. From this we can glean that newspapers have a better chance of surviving the bad rap that goes with paywalls if they can convince their readers that what they provide is essential to them, or more convenient, or overall less costly in an online format.

The Brisbane Times is an interesting, almost unique, form on online news, as it

The Brisbane Times makes heavy use
of paid ads.

is one of the few that does not have a physical copy available for purchase at a newsagents. It’s a Fairfax publication, a name I’m sure most Australians have
heard. When it originally came into being, there was speculation as to whether it would disappear behind a paywall, but that never happened. Instead, the Brisbane Times relies heavily on paid advertising, with large banners spread across its pages. However, it can’t be certain whether the Brisbane Times will remain free to the public forever, as there has been some sort of change in
leadership recently.

What if people don’t subscribe?

Personally, I think it’s interesting that people complain about paying for an online service. It’s as if it being online makes the service or goods  imaginary, or not as concrete a thing, and therefore not worth as much as it’s real world counterpart. This is where you hear the joke (originally done by The Oatmeal) about the person who is wiling to buy a flat screen, or a ridiculously expensive car, even if they don’t need it, but then complain and grumble when asked to pay 99c for a game for their 2^nd generation Ipad. A similar theory is at play with the world of online journalism. People don’t just want good, investigative journalism, they expect it, and will demand it if they don’t get it. But investigative journalism, indeed any sort of journalism, costs money and time.

My lecturer Dr Bruce Redman told my cohort about a documentary called The Moonlight State, which was basically an exposè of the corruption that went right to the heart of the Queensland police force in the 70’s and the years surrounding that decade. That documentary, and the hours and hours of research and evidence that created it, led to the Fitzgerald Inquiry, a fascinating moment in Queensland legal history which completely changed the Justice system in Queensland. However it’s easy enough to Google that, so I’m not going to go into details.

My point is that without people funding these newspapers and other media outlets, those journalists could never have put in the time to complete that documentary.  They needed the money, and the time, that the general populace buying their publications created. This is where paywalls come in: there is a concern that investigative journalism will be compromised, or crippled, if people aren’t willing to pay for the news stories they want.

 

But how do you think paywalls will affect the rise – or fall - of new media, and online journalism? Do you think paywalls are an effective way to ensure good, ground breaking stories, or are they just one more way for the media moguls to squeeze money out of the populace? 

Seriously, I want to know. Just comment below.