How Media Paywalls Work in Authoritarian Countries
Russia’s experience shows that charging for news can ensure independence but limit influence.
He has an alternative view.
Photographer: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images
There’s been a lot of talk recently about journalism and paywalls, including here at Bloomberg, which just put one in place. Much of the general conversation has been focused on the economics of supporting quality reporting; nearly all of it has been centered on American journalism.
I’d like to widen the frame on both counts — by sharing my experience in Russia. There, the record is more complicated. In Russia, paywalls have been essential for maintaining journalistic integrity. At the same time, they have shown that charging for journalism can reduce its impact. In authoritarian countries, this can in turn lead to an erosion of free speech and accountability.