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We really need to dismantle the idea that Journalism is what protects Democracy. It’s just another institution and shouldn’t be seen as some incorruptible sourc

• smackeyacky 5y ago
  I don't think the old line news organisations that used to be funded by classified advertising had much choice other than to become shills / reworkers of press releases. As soon as that independent funding source dried up they were always going to change. Interestingly to me, the subscription model seems to further drive partisan reporting. The more the news organisations rely on subscriptions, the more they have to pander to their subscribers and main advertisers who tend to be skewed towards whatever political leaning that organisation had. It has almost forced them to be more extreme to keep up the clicks and keep the subs flowing in. Can't write a bad article about Apple or Google if they are a substantial part of your ad revenue and/or are restricting the distribution of your headlines. They desperately need some other source of income.
  • livinginfear 5y ago
    > "Interestingly to me, the subscription model seems to further drive partisan reporting" This is a great observation. However I don't think these institutions want to be reformed. I think they exist to serve the political ends of their owners, and have for a long time.
    • smackeyacky 5y ago
      This is true, Murdoch is no different to Hearst in terms of yellow journalism. I do think there is a big difference in flexibility of editorial freedom that the subscription and clickbait model doesn't allow compared to the older funding model. Perhaps that is the root of that unwillingness.
• deleted 5y ago
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