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Thread: You may have noticed @TorontoStar has a lot of exclusives. That leads to inevitable calls from some to take these stories out from our paywall. I may wish this was different but the truth is, we can't do this work for free. Without revenue, these stories don't exist+
Once that revenue came from advertising. That isn't so true now, even less so with pandemic exacerbated ad losses. A crucial way forward is reader subscription. I use crucial with intent. It's not a nice to have. It's existential. Newsrooms are shuttering+ https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/11/09/saving-the-journalism-industry-will-require-community-support.html
Speaking of pandemic, that leads to a whole other layer. When the pandemic was new, we promised *some* stories vital to public health would be free. We wanted to ensure people knew how to keep safe. They know that now, it hasn't changed for a while: Distance. Mask. Hand wash+
Still, new info comes out every day & we want to make sure you all have access to that. That's why we put heavy time and resources into this FREE file, updated almost 24 hours/day. All vital daily covid news is found in it. We want to have you covered+ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/11/12/todays-coronovirus-news-manitoba-hunkering-down-for-second-time-to-fight-spread-of-virus.html
Journalists are people doing intense, difficult, often traumatic work they hope will make a difference. They do it in a pandemic, like you. Like you they have added stresses, care duties, fears. It can be bewildering some feel they should work for free. Time & work has value+
And they, like journalism colleagues around the industry, want to be able to keep doing it, so the stories they write can continue to change lives, change policy, change conversations, connect people, inform people, explain the confusing, expose wrongs. That takes subscription+
We appreciate the added readership of the digital age. The industry is not hurting for readership. It is hurting for actual dollars. If you can afford to subscribe the outlet/s of your choice, please do. That too is a form of public service because it supports the work+
If you cannot at this time, most paywalls allow for a number of articles before hitting a wall. Information is out there. If the particular information you want is exclusively at one outlet, it's because they put in long hard work to produce that, & they need a way to pay for it+
We appreciate your interest in responsible journalism, deeply. We thank everyone who can support it in some way. We understand some can't, & they deserve quality information too. And hope some day, it will not be the norm for people to expect others to work for free+
If you're able to subscribe, more info is here: https://www.thestar.com/subscribe
In the meantime, the U.S. election, pandemic and government response to it has shown clearly the role journalism has in a civil, free society. Shoutout to all those in the industry fighting to uphold that.
In the meantime, the U.S. election, pandemic and government response to it has shown clearly the role journalism has in a civil, free society. Shoutout to all those in the industry fighting to uphold that.
