News Online and The Paywall Debate - To Build or Not to Build?

Stephen Bartholomeusz, writing in the Australian Business Spectator, in an article entitled 

False iPad hope? (free sign up required to view).

This blogger finds it ironic that a writer in what is a essentially a free online publication, doing very well with it's model, needs to wonder which online model will work for traditional journalism. The following models will not work:

• The general readership, major newspaper behind a paywall a la the UK's Times online
• Specialised Magazines whereby the app costs more than the print edition a la Wired Magazine (and you can get it free on the web - how dumb is that?)
• Any combination of the above as in the proposed new Murdoch online Daily which is "...an interesting and brave experiment with a purpose-designed tablet product, with News committing an estimated $US100 million to the venture." (from the Bartholomeusz article above)

The models that do work are:

1. And one only: The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times and The Economist online editions. No prizes as to why these online publications make money and actually work - the financial market participants reading them have money to burn. Very simple.

Everyone else is doomed to failure.

So get on the advert supported band wagon and stop winging about it...!