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 Linda Thomas
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seattletimes_lt640.jpg
The Seattle Times announced "digital subscriptions" are needed to support quality journalism. In mid-March, the news organization will put up a paywall. Subscribers will continue to have unrestricted access online. Other users will have to pay. (Linda Thomas photo)

The state of Seattle journalism, as the Times puts up a paywall

February 24, 2013 @ 4:13 pm (Updated: 12:52 pm - 2/25/13 )

Most people don't want to pay for news online. Many people don't trust the media. And, by the way, everybody is a journalist.

Saying, "You get what you pay for," The Seattle Times is challenging the first assumption, while a local news council is asking journalists to step up their games to win back public trust.

In a column in The Seattle Times Sunday, the news organization announced it will begin charging those who don't subscribe to their newspaper but want to read their stories online.

"Of course, we realize that nobody likes having to pay for something they've been receiving for free," writes David Boardman, executive editor for the Times. "But we believe that if you stop for just a moment to contemplate how important The Times is to the vitality and civility of the Puget Sound region, you might even feel good about your contribution to sustaining the content you value."

Boardman referred to the paywall as "digital subscriptions."

Those subscriptions to the SeattleTimes.com will be available at no extra charge to existing and new print subscribers and will give users access to the newspaper's smartphone and tablet apps.

Readers who don't subscribe will still be able to access the online content on a limited basis, after a few stories you'll have to pay.

How much? A Times spokeswoman later stated there will be an introductory offer of 99-cents per week for four weeks. The regular pricing will be $3.99 per week.

There are hundreds of reader reactions posted in the comments section of Boardman's column.

"I'm starved for objective and untargeted news and I'm not sure where to go. I have had that feeling for a very long time. I'm certain that registering my name, address and credit card for a subscription is not going to help me in my quest," writes one reader from Federal Way.

"You would have to pry money from my cold dead hands to pay for a Seattle Times subscription," says another reader.

"Pay for this crap? Good luck."

The Times is not alone with its skeptical news consumers.

The most recent Edelman Trust Barometer puts the media as a whole third from the bottom among institutions. That's down there with banks and financial institutions.

"That's consistent with Gallup, which found 60 percent of Americans have little or no trust in the media's ability to report the news fully, accurately and fairly," says John Hamer. "That's disturbing."

Hamer, who was a Seattle Times editorial writer many years ago, founded the Washington News Council in 1998.

"A lot of citizens in this region really care about high quality, accurate, ethical, thorough, professional journalism," says Hamer. "I spent 30 plus years as a journalist and thought maybe the profession was getting a little off track."

His media watchdog organization is the only one that still exists in the United States. Has it made a difference?

"Maybe a little," he admits. "You pick your battle and try to move the needle a little bit."

Hamer's latest effort is called the Tao of Journalism. He's encouraging student and professional journalists to abide by its simple concepts of Transparency, Accountability, and Openness.

He believes journalism has been damaged by the "pretense of objectivity."

"So many journalists for so long have pretended that they have no views - the view from nowhere. 'Oh no, no, no, no, no I don't have any opinions on anything. I'm totally neutral. I can be totally objective,' well baloney," he says.

Journalists should still be even handed, but the line between news an opinion has blurred so much that he believes news people need to be more upfront about their opinions so the reader, viewer and listener can better judge the information they're receiving.

On the issue of accountability, Hamer says it's quite simple. Journalists need to admit when they've made factual errors and apologize for them.

"Show a little humility. The words humility and journalist seldom appear in the same sentence, let's face it this is an ego centric profession," Hamer says.

Openness involves giving other points of view opportunity to express their perspectives. It also includes engaging in open, public dialogue through comments. I've always been a supporter of your ability to comment anonymously on this blog, and I do consider your feedback.

Hamer believes these standards should apply to anyone - with or without a journalism degree - who presents news in any form.

"We're all journalists now," he says. "You can start your own website or blog. Facebook could be considered journalism when you're posting stuff to your friends. People trust what they get from their friends maybe more than the traditional media sources."

"That's the big question," he asks. "Who do you trust?"

By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (42)


  • Add A Comment

  • Bill Kortenbach wrote...
    Times Paywall Article
    February 24, 2013 4:35 pm
    Asking non-subscribers to pay for content that is free everywhere else, especially when the media has a credibility problem is exceptionally stupid-- and guaranteed to fail. First you guys need to start reporting the news with equal attention to both sides of every issue and without a slant. I hate to dent your egos but NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS-- what we want is the news. Real journalists are not interested in being social engineers and anyone with half a brain knows this. By taking sides on an issue you disqualify yourselves as a bonafide news source and alienate fifty percent of your audience... AND YOU WANT US TO PAY FOR THIS???? The arrogance is breathtaking.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    What Bill said
    February 24, 2013 4:55 pm
    And honestly, I didn't know the times was still around......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Almost Pravda
    February 25, 2013 5:40 am
    Whenever I see the AP stamp I know I don't have to waste more time. Now they want to charge? Get out your wallets progressive zombies.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Well said Bill Kortenbach
    February 25, 2013 6:30 am
    Why would I want to pay to support your left wing slanted news organization? Good luck with a dying business model.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rikki Doxx wrote...
    We've Not Run Out Of Trees?
    February 25, 2013 6:38 am
    Print media? A joke. Times journalism? Another joke. Fair, balanced, neutral? Comedic! ROFLMAO!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    That's consistent with Gallup, which found 60 percent of Americans have little or no trust in the media's ability to report the news fully, accurately and fairly," says John Hamer. "That's disturbing."
    February 25, 2013 6:41 am
    When 86% of people who identify themselves as journalist, also identify themselves as democrats, pretty much tells you where the heart lies. We want you to be a watchdog on our elected officials and the money us taxpayers are required to pay, instead of being their cheerleaders.....please take note KIRO staff.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TwistedFang wrote...
    Pay to read the Seattle Trash? Ooops Times? No thanks.
    February 25, 2013 7:13 am
    I wont read that trash, specially Sunday, Sunday is old news anyway as they print them the night before! (and there sports section SUCKS!) I'll stick with the Tacoma News Tribune!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Outsourcing..
    February 25, 2013 7:16 am
    Digital subscriptions are needed to support quality journalism..? How about the Times try this first: Quality journalism to support quality journalism. Does that mean more AP stories disguised as local news? Just because the State of Washington can tax and charge for everything and not give us our moneys worth doesn't mean that you can try that business model on yourself as well..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    Saving print journalism
    February 25, 2013 7:28 am
    First off, I do not in any way wish to imply that I have a workable answer to this problem at all. The people who must pay the bills have determined this will get it done. Best of wishes to them.

    The civic reward of print journalism is without any argument. The ability of a person to pick up a paper and digest information without plugging in to anything is a vital component to civilization.

    The fitness measure for print will always be higher than the electronic version for many plain and stark reasons. Posting to the internet in many cases requires almost the opposite of effort. It is inherently lazy. Whereas printing invites more eyes, more work, and more scrutiny to this vital civic process.

    Anyone who thinks we should just let print media ride off into the sunset has no clue about the price many have paid to give it life. From the Common Sense pamphlet, to Daniel Pearl losing his head for a story, journalism is the freedom won by blood and loss. It is the right and duty of free people to defend and support it.

    I would hope they would give thought to a Kickstarter approach to raising funds. If what they have behind the wall is worth it, people will pay.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • luckedout wrote...
    How old are you?
    February 25, 2013 9:05 am
    You sound like my grandpa bemoaning the change from traditional letters to email. It is no harder to print a news article than it is to post it online. The journalists type it up on their computers just the same. It doesn't invite more scrutiny, in fact it's almost the opposite. With online coverage you have instant feedback with comments, links to sources and similar news stories. You can look at a news story from different sources almost instantly, which leads to more accountability from journalists who would insert their opinion into the news. Print journalism is dead. Just like the post office. They've been around for so long they haven't realized it yet.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    Your grandpa
    February 25, 2013 9:19 am
    I'm sure your grandpa could have told you the overall merit of internet scrutiny at any age of his life. I'm also pretty sure I am younger than him.

    This idea of print media being of no real use is a very old one. Many cultures consider print journalism an affront to their tastes and sensibilities.

    In most of these cases we are talking about backward cultures that stifle creativity and freedom.

    The need to have a printed version of the news is real. It performs legal functions. It provides people not plugged into an outlet with needed information.

    Attempting to have a society without printed journalism is not new. Ask your grandpa about the price journalists have paid to do their work. The fourth estate, not e-state.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • luckedout wrote...
    4th Estate is dead
    February 25, 2013 5:02 pm
    When half of them have politicians on their staff, they have no interest in being the 4th estate. If anything print journalism is archaic. It stifles communication and any news that ends up on its pages is already old. The internet enhances creativity. Take a look at the music industry. Without the RIAA acting as gatekeepers, the music industry is exploding with great music in all genres. Journalists will continue to great work, just not on a newspaper. It will be on a website. Print papers are dead men walking.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    It is alive
    February 26, 2013 7:39 am
    The necessity to hold a written copy of information without the need of batteries or an outlet will never die. As I said, it is used for legal announcements and other legal acts. Digital material does not pass legal muster when the goal is to reach the entire community.

    Journalists are going to be pinched more and more as budgets tighten. The need to produce work that is consumable over distasteful yet essential functions will increase.

    With great challenges comes great overcoming. The journalists that will thrive in this atmosphere will be both the very best and the very worst. This type of environment eliminates the middle ground.

    There are quite a few aspects of life enhanced by the internet. Music is one of them. And yeah, so is journalism. But just like watching a live show will never be outlived by a YouTube video, printed news will never be made obsolete by a digital counterpart. Never.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    NO WAY IN HECK!
    February 25, 2013 7:39 am
    I will never ever ever pay one cent for any of the trash that is called the Seattle times. Good luck on that one guys you will be out of business within one year.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gunther wrote...
    Stopped reading a long time ago
    February 25, 2013 7:48 am
    When you start reporting news without your left wing slant, then I might consider buying your subscription. I don't want right wing or left wing, I simply want someone to report the news as it is. Until then I will surf the net and receive my news.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mcmurphi wrote...
    Pay for the Seattle Times?
    February 25, 2013 7:51 am
    Good Bye!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }