Digital Subscriptions Needed to Support Quality Journalism
Posted: 2/25/2013 | By: David Boardman | Seattle Times executive editor
It is a truism of American life that you get what you pay for. The
notion is that quality is usually commensurate with cost. Even China,
not a traditional bastion of capitalism, has its own version: “Yi fen
qian, yi fen huo,” meaning, “One cent gives you one cent’s worth.”
These days, that foundation of our economic system is making its way
into the world of news. Since The New York Times began charging for full
access to its website two years ago, more than 400 daily newspapers
across the country — including most in this state — now have digital
subscriptions. Full, unrestricted access to their websites is no longer
free.