It doesn’t. However, not paying them (as a society) pretty much guarantees that they’ll have to sell themselves out to larger interests completely, or else go under.
I’m noticed that the news organizations with paywalls (Washington Post, NYT, Technology Review) tend to have markedly higher quality and less of a weirdly establishment slant on things than e.g. CNN or Newsweek or what have you. BBC is pretty much the only big exception and it’s state funded.
Not a bad point. I’m not sure that paying them means they’re not beholden to larger interests as well, though.
It doesn’t. However, not paying them (as a society) pretty much guarantees that they’ll have to sell themselves out to larger interests completely, or else go under.
I’m noticed that the news organizations with paywalls (Washington Post, NYT, Technology Review) tend to have markedly higher quality and less of a weirdly establishment slant on things than e.g. CNN or Newsweek or what have you. BBC is pretty much the only big exception and it’s state funded.