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Current Events » in reply to re: Mainstream media declares war on Internet

The Chinese, the Russians and the Indians are not worried about profit?
Mary Anne — (archived)

Really? They have no overhead? They don't like pay raises?

Now, I'm not saying they might not play the Walmart lowball game at first, to run the competition into the ground. But sooner or later, we will pay fees for so-called free information. We already pay for it now, in product costs that advertisers pass on to us. And guess who pays for free government websites?

The news business is a business like any other business. If suppliers see a way to make a profit, they will use it.

At the same time, it has some of the same unique qualities that the fashion industry has: while a dress can be made by anyone, names have a certain cachet. Indian reporters have an edge in reporting about south Asia, but the North American market will continue to look for North American sources, especially about North American issues.

Information is a commodity. It's never been free to gather it or to produce it, and the higher the quality the greater the cost. We are unrealistic to expect to continue to receive for free what it costs time, effort, talent and money for others to produce.

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