[Kalie]

#1 Is the paywall working?

The paywall that The Times implemented is still in use today. Though much of the presented case information took place about a decade ago, The Times is still a prominent source of news relied upon by millions of readers. Though some readers may have been phased out after the creation of the paywall, The Times continues to exist. There may have been hiccups along the way, but the paywall ultimately functioned to keep the reporting outlet alive.

#3 Why are newspapers in trouble? What is the goal of the Times in creating the paywall?

Traditional newspapers are “in trouble” as hard-printed formats fade into disuse behind the prevailing electronic formats of the digital age. Electronic formats offer more convenience to both creators and consumers, and they also reduce consumption of the raw materials that are used to produce hard-printed formats. For these reasons, information is now more digital than ever, and it would be a costly business decision to try and resist this reality.

In establishing the paywall, The Times had the goal of continuing to generate revenue even as use of their hard-printed product declined. While electronic news articles are instantly and “freely” available to consumers, the fact remains true that the research and reporting for these articles is not achieved without expense.

#4 Should The Times actively manage to transition from print to digital?

The Times will not remain a relevant source of news if it neglects to manage its transition from print to digital. At this point, this transition is well-established.

Perhaps this bit of insight is merely experiential (and maybe it’s too optimistic or idealist), but I know many thoughtful consumers of news that are more than willing to pay a fee even for electronically-delivered reporting. Electronic news articles are still a commodity, and charging for a commodity is obviously a reasonable thing for a business to do. Consumers are even more willing to this if the fee they pay comes with some “perks,” like advertisement-free reading, more forms of access, or access to exclusive/bonus content.