• Subscribe to our newsletter
The Media Online
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
The Media Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Digital

The best content used to be free

by Cory Treffiletti
May 31, 2021
in Digital
0 0
0
The best content used to be free

More and more high-profile online publications are gating some or all of their content behind a paywall/Pexels

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I’ve recently noticed a trend: More and more high-profile online publications are gating some or all of their content behind a paywall.

Apple News started doing this a while back, and it’s eerie just how many ‘Apple News +’ articles are the ones I want to read. Motley Fool has been this way for years, and Business Insider transformed somewhere along the way from one of my favourite publications to a thorn in my side because I don’t pay for their access and I probably never will, even though they have great content. 

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times have led the way on gated content ever since I can remember, and even USA Today has started offering ‘subscriber-only’ content, which got me to really sit up and take notice. There’s a bunch of sports sites that require a paid subscription like The Athletic. Is this the wave of the future?

Digital media consolidation has been both good and bad. In one respect, consolidation has led to better, higher quality content across the board.  Larger audiences spend more time with digital content and the platforms where they reside. That turns into more ad content, more ad revenue and better content to feed the proverbial beast. It has also weeded out some of the sketchier, lower-production quality content and made it easier to find the good stuff. 

As the saying goes, the cream rises to the top. But what about news content? Is news content really that different if I find it on USA Today or the New York Times vs. finding it somewhere else through a Google search?  Do I need to start paying for the ‘quality’ news content?

Much of the time, when I find an article that is blocked, I know I can simply go to Google, search, and find the content on my own. It may not be the exact article, but most often I’m able to find somewhere else that has referenced the same data or insights and repurposed or published it on a different site. The simple truth is most of the content I see as paid is content I don’t really need. It’s content that is ‘nice to have’ but not a must-have. My life will continue just fine not knowing the details of that specific article. 

I find the paid content situation similar to the streaming services situation.  The best video content has been swallowed up by streaming services and as a result, I subscribe to a number of them, including Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBOMax. Do news content providers expect me to settle into a future where I pay for two, three or four different news content subscriptions as well? For that to happen, the rest of the internet has to agree that only the best content lies behind a gated wall, and that is not likely to happen.

Video content quality is directly proportional to the budget with which it is created. Written content has a lower threshold and is based on the intelligence and insight of the writer. If you invest more in the written word, it does not guarantee a better outcome. 

Writing is more democratised; once a story has broken, it is in the public eye and anyone can write or talk about it. That means breaking a story is the only competitive advantage, and that value decreases dramatically once the story has broken. 

To that end, even though a lot of quality content is now behind a pay wall, I don’t see myself paying for very much content in the near term.  Pay walls are a great business model for a portion of the audience and they help support the publications that use them, but I can’t see a world where they are the only way to engage with great written content. 

The best example I have to dispute the paywall model is Medium (and of course MediaPost).  These are examples of where quality content is available and you just need to know where to look.

Paywalls are fine, but the internet will never fully embrace the all-paid model.


Cory Treffiletti is SVP at FIS. He has been a thought leader, executive and business driver in the digital media landscape since 1994. In addition to authoring a weekly column on digital media, advertising and marketing since 2000 for MediaPost‘s Online Spin, Treffiletti has been a successful executive, media expert and/or founding team member for a number of companies, and published a book, Internet Ad Pioneers, in 2012.


Cory Treffiletti

Cory Treffiletti is SVP at fintech leader, FIS. He has been a thought leader, executive and business driver in the digital media landscape since 1994. In addition to authoring a weekly column on digital media, advertising and marketing since 2000 for MediaPost's Online Spin, Treffiletti has been a successful executive, media expert and/or founding team member for a number of companies and published a book, Internet Ad Pioneers, in 2012

Follow Us

  • twitter
  • threads
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Kelders van Geheime: The characters are here

Kelders van Geheime: The characters are here

March 22, 2024
Dissecting the LSM 7-10 market

Dissecting the LSM 7-10 market

May 17, 2023
Keri Miller sets the record straight after being axed from ECR

Keri Miller sets the record straight after being axed from ECR

April 23, 2023
Getting to know the ES SEMs 8-10 (Part 1)

Getting to know the ES SEMs 8-10 (Part 1)

February 22, 2018
Sowetan proves that sex still sells

Sowetan proves that sex still sells

105
It’s black. It’s beautiful. It’s ours.

Exclusive: Haffajee draws a line in the sand over racism

98
The Property Magazine and Media Nova go supernova

The Property Magazine and Media Nova go supernova

44
Warrant of arrest authorised for Media Nova’s Vaughan

Warrant of arrest authorised for Media Nova’s Vaughan

41
MVNO: Why brands should stop renting their customer relationships

MVNO: Why brands should stop renting their customer relationships

July 11, 2025
Take your cameras, but leave them with dignity

Take your cameras, but leave them with dignity

July 11, 2025
It’s Friday, time to chill with ‘gin and phonics’

It’s Friday, time to chill with ‘gin and phonics’

July 11, 2025
Lemons, lemonade: Just another day in paradise

Lemons, lemonade: Just another day in paradise

July 10, 2025

Recent News

MVNO: Why brands should stop renting their customer relationships

MVNO: Why brands should stop renting their customer relationships

July 11, 2025
Take your cameras, but leave them with dignity

Take your cameras, but leave them with dignity

July 11, 2025
It’s Friday, time to chill with ‘gin and phonics’

It’s Friday, time to chill with ‘gin and phonics’

July 11, 2025
Lemons, lemonade: Just another day in paradise

Lemons, lemonade: Just another day in paradise

July 10, 2025

ABOUT US

The Media Online is the definitive online point of reference for South Africa’s media industry offering relevant, focused and topical news on the media sector. We deliver up-to-date industry insights, guest columns, case studies, content from local and global contributors, news, views and interviews on a daily basis as well as providing an online home for The Media magazine’s content, which is posted on a monthly basis.

Follow Us

  • twitter
  • threads

ARENA HOLDING

Editor: Glenda Nevill
glenda.nevill@cybersmart.co.za
Sales and Advertising:
Tarin-Lee Watts
wattst@arena.africa
Download our rate card

OUR NETWORK

TimesLIVE
Sunday Times
SowetanLIVE
BusinessLIVE
Business Day
Financial Mail
HeraldLIVE
DispatchLIVE
Wanted Online
SA Home Owner
Business Media MAGS
Arena Events

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

 
Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2015 - 2023 The Media Online. All rights reserved. Part of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs

Copyright © 2015 - 2023 The Media Online. All rights reserved. Part of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?