You want me to pay for news? Try again.
The word “news” has never held more importance than it does today. It has come to take on a different meaning than it did 50 years ago. Back then, news was delivered in an objective manner, with those delivering it sticking to the facts and nothing more. Since then, we have become surrounded — some would even say overwhelmed — by news outlets pushing their own agendas, to the point that identifying a reliable news source has become a difficult task. Yet, we’re asked to pay for it?
I firmly believe that the news should be free for a few reasons. First, it is instrumental to the seamless function of any modern democracy. Second, with the advent of information technology in the last few decades, we are not tied to the few news networks that used to deliver our news in the past. Instead, we can get our news anywhere, with just a few clicks.
Yes, the media industry is changing and with emphasis on commercialism, ratings and clickbait, the truth has suffered. Still, that should not form the basis for real news to hide behind a paywall, accessible to only those who can afford it. News should not be a commodity, instead it should be viewed as a necessity, easily available in its true, unadulterated form for immediate consumption by its audience.
I do pay for certain services and subscriptions. My Netflix, Gear Patrol and Hot Rod Magazine subscriptions are evidence of that. I believe in paying for entertainment or for media that I feel should be consumed by way of an experience, with a sense of occasion. Every time I receive the latest issue of Gear Patrol, I set aside some time so that I can read the feature articles and fully admire the glossy photography while thumbing through its matte-finish pages. However, I don’t believe news should be delivered in this way. Gone are the days of Cronkite and Burrows, only to replaced with the urgency of a push notification on our smartphones. A simple, effective and vital aspect of our daily lives, news should not be allowed to reside behind a paywall.
Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” a quote I wholeheartedly agree with, but would also like to examine. How are good men expected to act when they have been misinformed about facts and events? Are we expected to believe that capitalism is to blame for the current state of the news industry, and more importantly, are we supposed to just accept it? Furthermore, we’re expected to pay for this information, when it may do us more harm than good? If we paid for this news, we’d be legitimizing it by accepting it as both, a business model and a sustainable way for us to receive our news.
The news is a public service. The sooner people realize that, the better. Having been both a journalist and a reader, I believe in the power of a news outlet that takes its work seriously. Unfortunately, such outlets, while numerous, have been pushed to the sidelines. Their ideals need to be integrated into mainstream media so that we can return to actually learning valuable and necessary information. Only time will tell if the situation is going to improve. Till then, I’ll keep myself entertained with my Netflix subscription.
