New Journalism Clubs Are "Members Only"

Honestly, I don't have a problem with this. I manage/edit a very small, local street paper in northern Canada (produced by our volunteers - all of us unpaid - and sold by homeless/low-income folks), and I also work as production editor for another non-profit short-fiction magazine (both 'jobs' earn me the grand sum of about $5-$8K/yr in honoraria, depending on how much each org can literally afford), so I do know exactly what it's like to ask for support for what we're doing (trying to do).

The Guardian is often a great source of info (the NYT, um, not so much - too corporate-biased, IMO). Both are corporate-driven, so unlike our venture at all (we're radical non-profit, and volunteers, but would actually like to be 'more sustainable'). But I don't think what they're doing is exactly elitist, despite my being (rabid) anti-elitist and anti-capitalist. I reiterate that I don't see a problem with what they're doing, which is essentially just a 'hook' - something 'extra', or different from what the writers usually do for their papers. I argue that most readers aren't actually interested in 'exclusive' content/contact with 'x' writers (I'm certainly not), so if they do have loyalists (elitists?) willing to pay for the privilege, so be it. (And that said, being low-income myself, I am still willing to occasionally pay for 'more/better' info than what's pumped out to the masses, just because it's my interest/field... in my context I mean skillshares, workshops, etc.- I'm happy to pay people with more independent media experience than I have for their insights: that's supporting our own 'local' economy). And it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than over-priced post-secondary education, which is not an option for some of us, even here where it costs a lot less than it does in the U.S.)

My greater fear is that the truly good writers - especially investigative reporters with integrity - will lose their jobs totally, and so another kick in the teeth to media democracy.

Just my 2 cents. I get the point. Good article (sincerely) and glad the issue's been raised. I hope this 'exclusivity' is not actually as smarmy as it could/might be! Thanks.

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You can do all what the NY Times and the Guardian are offering for a fraction of the price over at Znet. Learn documentary making and media for activists. Much better than anything the MSM can offer. http://www.zmag.org/zmi/zmi.htm and http://www.zmag.org/zvideo/main

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When Judy Miller and the NYtimes pay damages to those serving and dying in Iraq
and any of these shameless, snotty, self-absorbed 'screenplay writers' have a shred of character to drop the dime on the crimes that throb like an untreated infection - they might actually matter.



Truth is the greatest cash-cow there is, it pays the best dividends.

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...particularly if I could hit them with a stick in the process.

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get people to SHOW UP & PAY CA$H for their mindbending experience...


sounds like the GOP is taking more notes from the Hari Krishna...

good on ya!

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...into a lobbying firm. Moneyed insiders will get to coach journalists on what politicians to praise or trash, and what questions are out of bounds. It will be like the manifestly corrupt lobbying parties involving donors, journalists, and politicians, but the journalists will be meeting donors and politicians seperately for the purpose of keeping up appearances.

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If we're gonna believe all the hype that news is going to have to be free now, how do writers and publications survive otherwise? Is it better to pay Murdoch for the junk that he's gonna charge for online?

As long as the Times tells people exactly what they'll get from these writers, why is this a problem? I saw Jon Pareles get mobbed like a celebrity at a speaking event so if people want to pay for access to their favorite writers, why not let them?

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Not sure what's wrong with some of these things, and the author (whom I have nvr been overly impressed with), seems to be lumping a lot of things together.

What's wrong with paying a nominal fee to interact with journalists, as long as this is not the journalist selling access to the paper or agreeing to manufacture a particular opinion? If I think its valuable to talk with Maslin about a movie, then heck, lemme pay for it. This is no different from paying to get a sports player's autograph or see a big star in a play. The issue here seems to me to be what the responsibility of the news media is, and whether it fills it. If these organizations become only a vehicle for this sort of star promotion then its not so good. Rather, I would hope those money making activities be used to promote other aspects of journalism that don't pay so well, but are in the public interest. If news papers can come up with some creative ways to support those other activities, then more power to them. Otherwise, we need to be sure and support news gathering organizations with donations, because, regardless of your occupation, you have to pay the rent.

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Except for bargaining over price, this is not only a positive thing, it's one key way all publications are going to get paid in cyberspace.

It's the Grateful Dead model. Let them copy and pass around music tapes for free, but charge for the inter-active experience of the concert.

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The vertex
of a mountain
appears over
a rainbow,
where the light
of my dreams
describes in the
will a perpetual
desire.

Francesco Sinibaldi

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The Guardian is often a great source of info (the NYT, um, not so much - too corporate-biased, IMO). Both are corporate-driven, so unlike our venture at all (we're radical non-profit, and volunteers, but would actually like to be 'more sustainable'). But I don't think what they're doing is exactly elitist, despite my being (rabid) anti-elitist and anti-capitalist. I reiterate that I don't see a problem with what they're doing, which is essentially just a 'hook' - something 'extra', or different from what the writers usually do for their papers. I argue that most readers aren't actually interested in 'exclusive' content/contact with 'x' writers (I'm certainly not), so if they do have loyalists (elitists?) willing to pay for the privilege, so be it. (And that said, being low-income myself, I am still willing to occasionally pay for 'more/better' info than what's pumped out to the masses, just because it's my interest/field... in two and a half men subtitles two and a half men s07e01 subtitles gossip girl s03e02 subtitles gossip girl s03e02 subs медицина медичний сайт fringe subs fringe subtitles pc serial port receiver serial port circuit melrose place s01e03 grand melrose place s01e03 subtitles nokia 7900 prism user manual nokia 7900 prism user guide 14 watt compact fluorescent electronic ballast electronic ballast the big bang theory subs the big bang theory subtitles motorola w230 user manual motorola w230 user guide seropol5 my context I mean skillshares, workshops, etc.- I'm happy to pay people with more independent media experience than I have for their insights: that's supporting our own 'local' economy). And it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than over-priced post-secondary education, which is not an option for some of us, even here where it costs a lot less than it does in the U.S.)

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