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The web needs a "doctor's office" model for media subscriptions. I recalled that when print newspapers and magazines were a thing I would read articles in the N

The web needs a "doctor's office" model for media subscriptions. I recalled that when print newspapers and magazines were a thing I would read articles in the New York Times or Time magazine without paying because the current issues were provided gratis in a doctor's waiting room. Or dentist, or a restaurant, or even someone leaving it on a bus seat. The publishers overlooked the potential for shared subscriptions when they transitioned to digital. Or they resented it because of the lost money it represents.

AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
I'm able to read most of those on my tablet via Libby/Overdrive, but my library's digital collection seems to be better than most. I've tried to setup my parents in another state with the same service using their local library cards, and the selection is pretty slim by comparison.
dralley 4y ago
That existed for a few years, it was called "Scroll" and then it got bought by Twitter and merged into Twitter Blue, which caused me to cancel my subscription. As far as I can tell nothing has really happened with it since then.
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carlosjobim 4y ago
Is there anything more to your argument than that you want your media for free and don't want to pay for it?
- asdff 4y ago
  There's no reason why businesses shouldn't be working with library systems on these. Papers like nyt claim to be the paper of record but make it as hard as possible to actually read in the supposed paper of record. Doesn't hurt the HN demographic any to pay for these subscriptions, but there is a whole segment of the population that is now left out and excluded from reading "the authoritative" take on events because its yet another recurring charge they have to make room for in their already strained budget. Somehow I feel like that doesn't leave our society better off than the alternative of being a little bit more permissive with who gets to read the news.

AdmiralAsshat 4y ago

I'm able to read most of those on my tablet via Libby/Overdrive, but my library's digital collection seems to be better than most. I've tried to setup my parents in another state with the same service using their local library cards, and the selection is pretty slim by comparison.

dralley 4y ago

That existed for a few years, it was called "Scroll" and then it got bought by Twitter and merged into Twitter Blue, which caused me to cancel my subscription. As far as I can tell nothing has really happened with it since then.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

carlosjobim 4y ago

Is there anything more to your argument than that you want your media for free and don't want to pay for it?

asdff 4y ago
There's no reason why businesses shouldn't be working with library systems on these. Papers like nyt claim to be the paper of record but make it as hard as possible to actually read in the supposed paper of record. Doesn't hurt the HN demographic any to pay for these subscriptions, but there is a whole segment of the population that is now left out and excluded from reading "the authoritative" take on events because its yet another recurring charge they have to make room for in their already strained budget. Somehow I feel like that doesn't leave our society better off than the alternative of being a little bit more permissive with who gets to read the news.