Are you willing to pay for news? The future of journalism may depend on it

French lawmakers recently carried out tax credit for citizens who share news. Likewise, other governments around the world are directly or indirectly funded by their media. Although it takes an important step towards financing the press, these models are inconsistent with the first American amendment, which is partly guaranteed – pressure free from government intervention.

This freedom is very important to ensure that the media is able to criticize and verify the US government. For this reason, at a time when accurate information cannot be more important, American public members must decide to invest in the press.

Why, then, the Americans hesitate to pay for the high quality news they need?

The confidence of the Americans in the media has reached low levels historically. The Americans are also increasingly seen that the media is biased towards a specific political party. In most cases, Americans tend to think that the biased media against their political party and their beliefs, a phenomenon called hostile media influence. These results are likely to be linked to two important matter: the increasing political discourse that constantly doubts the accuracy of the news, and the public’s biased perceptions of what is accurate.

First, let’s think about what constitutes the “media” and how it was discussed by political elites. The term “media” is often used as a selectively comprehensive distortion – it is placed on news methods that oppose the views of the individual. Politicians and ingenuity, especially conservatives, have created a joint enemy – news media – in recent years. Trump has repeatedly attacked news organizations, and often criticizes Fox News “the main media.” The paradox, of course, is that Fox News is the most consumed cable news network, which you place directly as part of the main media. This increases the situation of American journalists, as the enemy of the American public has already exacerbated low -confidence levels and makes spreading accurate information more difficult.

The second point to consider is how the American public has become very satirical about the content of the news. Good intentions and friends encouraged their students and acquaintances to be skeptical in the media they consume. While a decisive view of the media is important, Americans also need to be skeptical and criticize their own beliefs. Failure to do this often leads to confirmation, as individuals choose information that is consistent with their own beliefs because they do not like confronting different views. Since many Americans have learned to criticize the content of the media but not from their own beliefs, such a doubt can lead to an easy rejection of uncomfortable but accurate information.

Where does this leave the future of the American press? You should begin to repeat the importance of accurate reporting. The founders of America understood the necessity of conducting a free and independent press, and we must admit that this basic entity must continue to exist and prosper until our democracy works.

Then the Americans must consider the information they appreciate and why. If we only consume the information that is consistent with our own views, we allow wrong information to operate the deadly and non -moral actors to benefit. We must be open to new views – even those difficult – and these perspectives should be rooted in reality.

The crucial part of this, though, is that the Americans should be ready to pay for their news. Good press is expensive. In order for the press to work in democracy that depends on capitalism, people must pay the price of the content that achieves their goals of being good.

When news consumption has moved to distribution mainly via the Internet, newspapers failed to create a business model that can accommodate the upcoming declines and contributions in the tuition copies. Even when newspapers ultimately moved online, they found that online ads and subscriptions tend to be less profitable. Certainly, some modern news organizations have found ways to produce the revenues required for a good press, but the possibility of continuing other leaflets, especially very important local ports, is located with the purchasing power of the consumer.

Without a committed and sustainable investment from the American public, the local press may stop being. Small and medium newspapers throughout the country are working to integrate or explode partially due to ownership decisions, but also because the Americans chose to receive their news in total forms (such as Google News, Facebook and Twitter). While these compounds depend on local news sources to collect their content, the revenues gained from ads or any other means, such as selling user data, are not shared (or not shared fairly) with information creators.

Data constantly shows that Americans are ready to pay online media. We may not look at our Netflix subscription prices or Disney+ add to our online services. Why do we shive up with the idea of ​​paying the price of high -quality press? Consumers are used to the news to access free news content. Since we spoiled the content of the available news for free, we expect to continue to be free. The impact of the consolidation has made any increase in the news price look significant, although newspapers subscription are no more than Netflix subscription.

If the Americans want to obtain accurate and accurate information, they should be ready to pay for it. Since online ads are often purchased on a small part of the printed ads price, ads revenues do not provide enough to support news operations. Direct government financing provides conflicts in interests. The non -profit situation and tax exemptions encourage contributions primarily from the richest individuals and companies. Each of these models alone can ensure that the American press will continue in the position of independent control of the government and others in power. Instead, Americans must pay for their news content to provide support for this decisive component of our democracy.

Even with this information, it may be difficult to identify the news organizations that support them. The following strategies should help consumers make these decisions:

• Think about where you get your news. Do you choose information just because she agrees with you? Don’t do that. Choose news sources that do more than just meet the party audience.

• Make sure to distinguish between news and comment. Good news organizations must determine what the news is and what is the content of opinion.

• Check the use of news organizations for sources. Are the sources they use in their authenticity news stories and are considered experts in their field? Consider: experts are often people who are not politicians.

• Look for press standards. The Sarah News Corporation must have an ethical blog or clear reports preparation on its website.

• If you discover information about social media or the news complex, then make sure that the information that has been arose with a legal news institution (using other steps listed here). Then you prefer to visit the website of the news institution that created the original content to ensure that the advertising revenues are earned for this content.

• Read the full articles, not only newspaper addresses (or Facebook posts or tweets). In -depth reports provide more context, which is part of the reason for his interview.

• Get your news from multiple sources. Try to choose at least one outlet locally, nationally and internationally. And don’t be afraid to check their work using fact -examination sites.

And most importantly, once this menu is used to help choose your favorite news institutions, you are ready to support their work by paying the price of their content.

Jennifer Houoy and Brett Cheric are assistant professors at the College of Communications, Brian Lamb, at the University of Bordeaux.

Read more:

• The old media is dead. The old media has been living for a long time
• Learn about the media pole in the twentieth century, which would have been getting a Trump-not insulation in fear of revenge
• Are you ready to pay the news? The future of the press may depend on it
• Stagwell CEO: The press is drained through the overcrowding of the extra brand safety

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

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2020-07-16 18:02:00