Good things happened when Honolulu Civil Beat dropped its paywall and went to donations instead

Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2022 9:35 am

Rick Edmonds | Poynter

It is axiomatic that digital startups, besides valuable journalism, need to find a sustainable mix of revenue. For those relying on paid subscriptions, Mary Walter-Brown, CEO of the News Revenue Hub, has a message: “Sometimes you can get more just by asking.”

Case in point: Honolulu Civil Beat, an early startup dating to 2010, launched by eBay billionaire co-founder Pierre Omidyar.

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Good things happened when Honolulu Civil Beat dropped its paywall and went to donations instead

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