wow factor

Are you ready to pay for news stories?

Last year I wrote that quality news cannot continue to be free. This year, a lot of people seem to agree.

And concludes with...Would you pay for ZDNet?

The issue with this is the word quality.

Lets change that to idealogical or desperate and ask the same question.

Visit wsj.com and deal with their "quality" introduction...

Lets forget that WSJ has Karl Rove writing opinion articles, and that the purchase of this institution has damaged Murdoch's financial position. Proceed to their online edition and those dorky "locked" icons all over the place.

Sorry, I'm not paying money for Murdoch's idea of quality.

Now jump to the other side and visit NWT.com. Phew...no discount desperation so far. No locked articles either.

Can I live without Paul Krugman tearing strips off Obama? Maybe, maybe not. I would miss anything by Frank Rich, let alone delights like News about Renzo Piano. Maybe I could pass on one bottle of wine a month for the indulgence.

I am happy to pay my taxes to read/watch/visit/interact with the ABC. Hell, I would even pay more if it helped rejuvenate this starved and dulled media diamond.

Yes, I would pay, but I wouldn't be paying much and wouldn't be paying many.

Finally, Would you pay for ZDNet?. Umm, I don't think so.