Can Micropayments save the Industry?

There is a kind of contradictory fact about the current crisis for the newspapers. Although sales are decreasing, newspapers now have more readers than ever. The problem is that fewer consumers are paying for their news, because they can access them for free on the internet. People used to believe that information on the internet has to be free and for some this belief has remained to this day. One idea of how to save Journalism is simply about ”getting paid by users for the services they provide and the journalism they produce.” Currently there are a few companies as for instance the Wall Street Journal that requires a monthly subscription to view the newspaper´s online version. After acquisition of the newspaper Rupert Murdoch, believed he could abolish the company’s subscription fee, but he realized that he cannot forgo the revenue. Although it has been a rough year, the Journal´s website went up about 7% (Isaacson, 2008). On the other hand there is evidence that the subscription system does not always have to work. At the end of 2007, The New York Times has abolished its subscription system, for the hope to attract more readers and higher advertisement revenues (MacMillan, 2007). Subscriptions alone can’t be the way for the future. Even when buying a newspaper, one doesn’t look at every section. The same should be accountable for the online version of a newspaper. There should be some “iTunes- easy, quick micropayment method.” Former editor of Time Walter Isaacson says: “We need something like digital coins or an E-Z Pass digital wallet – a one-click system that will permit impulse purchases of a newspaper, magazine, article, blog, application, or video for a penny, nickel, dime, or whatever the creator chooses to charge.” iTunes is the proof that it works, people feel comfortable buying one single track for ¢99 instead of buying a whole flat rate such as Napster provides it. If we are willing to we pay up to 20¢ for a text message why can´t we pay 10¢ for a newspaper or a magazine? A micropayment system must be easy to use, and we could decide whether paying 2¢for a single article, or 20¢ for the business section of an online newspaper(Isaacson, 2008).

This would not save print media but it would give the news agencies the opportunity to stay make profit. Journalism should be valued by consumers, also because we need independent information. The definition of journalism is changing and with the introduction of micropayments, journalists will again be committed to write for their readers, rather than being influenced by advertisers(Isaacson, 2008).


Isaacson, W. (2008, February 4). A Bold, old idea to save journalism. Retrieved from http://www.aspeninstitute.org/about/about-walter-isaacson/articles-walter-isaacson/hays

MacMillan, R. (2007, September 17). New york times to end paid internet service. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWEN101120070918



Picture from: http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/2/how-the-new-york-times-could-make-micropayments-work-nyt