It does seem self-contradictory to attempt to be a news media outlet with exclusive access in a day where information is this easy to replicate and distribute.

It does seem self-contradictory to attempt to be a news media outlet with exclusive access in a day where information is this easy to replicate and distribute. I think you run the real risk, when you make your content exclusive, of simply being run over by media that doesn't. Unless you can compete on quality, which they usually do but how long and to what end? Facts aren't copyrightable.