How Media Make Money 3: Paywalls

Paywall: A system that prevents Internet users from accessing certain web content without a paid subscription. ^{Merriam-Webster}

During the previous lesson, we explored the transition from traditional publishing to the digital media of today.

In this lesson, students will take a closer look at paywalls and debate the question if the news should be free.

Lesson goals

Learning about different strategies digital media companies can employ.
Thinking about sustainable media models for the future.

Activities

Exercise (45 minutes) - Class

Students do a simulation of a boardroom debate of a media company that needs to decide whether to adopt a paywall.

Aim: Students consider the pros and cons of a paywall and motivate their answers.

Discussion questions (optional) - Class

Discuss some discussion questions with the students.

Aim: Students reflect on the topic.

Keywords

Attention economy Business Business models Newspapers Paywalls Publications

Theme: Journalism
Lesson duration: 45 minutes
Level: Introductory
Main method of instruction: Theory & Exercise
Materials: Pen and paper
Prep time for teacher

Exercise (45 minutes)

Theory

A paywall
A system that prevents Internet users from accessing certain web content without a paid subscription.
Merriam-Webster

Paywalls allow news organisations to be less reliant on advertising and advertisers, but make the publication less accessible since you cannot access its contents for free.

Exercise

Media company The News Cruise (“Whatever Floats Your Boat!”) needs to decide what business model to pursue in the upcoming decade. The most influential decision they will need to make is whether to publish their news for free, or to use a paywall on their website.

Preparation

The board is divided in 3 equal groups who have a different stance on the matter.
Divide the class in 3 groups:
1. In favor of paywall
2. Against a paywall
3. Unsure of paywall

Debate

The groups in favor and against both get 5 minutes to prepare at least 2 arguments to defend their side.
The unsure group prepares critical questions for both sides.
One representative of the group in favor gets 90 seconds to present their stance.
One representative of the group against gets 90 seconds to present their stance.
Both teams engage in a 5-minute floor debate (can add a link with a description to the format).
Two representatives of the neutral group ask 2 critical questions to both teams.
In favor and against engage in a second floor debate of 5 minutes.

Final decision

The neutral group votes to make the final decision. One representative will announce how and why this business model—with or without a paywall—will be implemented

Discussion questions (optional)

Whose responsibility is to inform people about what is going on in the world?
Who should pay for this responsibility to get people informed?
Why should online news be free or paid?
Why is the attention economy good or bad?
What is the difference between news and journalism?
Why is social media is a force for good or bad when it comes to informing people about the world?