Supporting The Guardian
#1
Supporting The Guardian
There are a few 'Grauniads' on here...anybody supporting it? They seem to be stepping up their "voluntary support" campaign in the efforts to avoid a paywall. I'm not, so far, although I do feel a bit or moral responsibility as I do use the site. Once you start paying, you start thinking whether there's other content you might purchase instead. It's the same with some authors that are publishing or podcasting online, who are encouraging voluntary payments. At the moment I think my only subscriptions are Spotify and Netflix, but that's slightly different.
#2
Re: Supporting The Guardian
There are a few 'Grauniads' on here...anybody supporting it? They seem to be stepping up their "voluntary support" campaign in the efforts to avoid a paywall. I'm not, so far, although I do feel a bit or moral responsibility as I do use the site. Once you start paying, you start thinking whether there's other content you might purchase instead. It's the same with some authors that are publishing or podcasting online, who are encouraging voluntary payments. At the moment I think my only subscriptions are Spotify and Netflix, but that's slightly different.
#3
Re: Supporting The Guardian
Guardinista, innit? I don't support the Guardian despite being a long term reader and, indeed, having downloaded a reasonably long term partner from their talkboard. I have met both Julie Burchill and Norman Shrapnel through the Gruan. I feel slightly guilty about not paying as I have a subscription to both the New Yorker and the NYT and would have had one to the Atlantic had that box not disappeared at the moment of transactional climax. Still, there's something cloying worthy about their manner of asking, I can't do it.
#4
Re: Supporting The Guardian
I hadn't paid much attention to the NYT but have used it a lot in the last two weeks. I'm very very impressed.
For me the Guardian has got a lot worse in the last 6 months and running more click bait headlines and focusing on lengthy commenting.
We're going to hit a tipping point where news content does need to be paid to be picked up but when we do it's highly likely I'll go where I feel the insightful Premier League coverage is.
Over the years I have carried some Economist subscriptions on and off as well.
For me the Guardian has got a lot worse in the last 6 months and running more click bait headlines and focusing on lengthy commenting.
We're going to hit a tipping point where news content does need to be paid to be picked up but when we do it's highly likely I'll go where I feel the insightful Premier League coverage is.
Over the years I have carried some Economist subscriptions on and off as well.
#5
Re: Supporting The Guardian
We were at the same school...though I never knew her.
I was always willing to subscribe if it came to it. I've been a reader since the late 70s. It's my home page.
But there are certain things I dislike about it and they seem to be increasing. It's still the best news site I know for what I want to read and do.
But if they just announced paying was needed I would. I would feel guilty about not being a supporter but they seem so hellbent on the way it's run seemingly since the new ed took over, as well as all their lovely little IT features that actually worsen the experience, I don't.
#6
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: Supporting The Guardian
I remember the days when one would buy a newspaper.
Why should they now be free?
Why should they now be free?
#7
Re: Supporting The Guardian
The actual content was paid for by the advertising.
The problem now is only a handful of companies can monetise content effectively and everyone else struggles.
#9
Re: Supporting The Guardian
Some of the columnists, Gary Younge, Owen EvenYounger seem to churn out the same column every week. So, of course, does Polly Toynbee but I could ignore one column, half the paper is more difficult. Sadly, while bemoaning the tabloid format and decline in proper news coverage, I only consistently read Marina Hyde and Hadley Freeman.
#10
Re: Supporting The Guardian
Point out that the writer of a column has used out of date stats or incomplete ones and the full stats or more recent ones contradict what they're saying and those comments don't stay up for long.
Double standards abound in these policies too.
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Supporting The Guardian
I never paid for newspapers, and I wont pay for any news online. I just use free sources and skip those that charge.
#12
Re: Supporting The Guardian
But sometimes it's worth paying/paying more.
The Guardian is my go to site for having the news I want and is much less likely to slant it's coverage to suit it's interests or owners because it's run by a trust.
That doesn't mean it doesn't have an agenda and doesn't slant its coverage. But it doesn't do outright lies and distortions like most of the others.
There's nothing that comes close and if it becomes compulsory to pay, then I'll pay.
For local stuff I subscribe to the Moncton newspaper. I still can't get over it being cheaper to have it delivered rather than having to go out in 30 below temperatures, icy underfoot, blizzards, downpours, extreme humidity and all the rest of it.
#13
Re: Supporting The Guardian
"For less than the price of a cup of coffee a week you can support for a month for £5..."
Just how many places are there that charge that much?
I see coffee at the Ritz, London is £7 but £2 to £3 looks more the norm from googling for London.
Starbucks seems to be in the same range but £3 to £4 for somethinghorrible special.
So where does 'the guardian' buy their coffees?
Just how many places are there that charge that much?
I see coffee at the Ritz, London is £7 but £2 to £3 looks more the norm from googling for London.
Starbucks seems to be in the same range but £3 to £4 for something
So where does 'the guardian' buy their coffees?
#15
Re: Supporting The Guardian
That aside, the Graun is my go-to news site as well (but not the only one). Like, but also unlike dbd33, I had a subscription to the Weekly edition from 1977 until about 2012. Unlike dbd33 because my father-in-law bought it for us every year for Christmas.
I would probably pay if they put up a paywall, but until then I'm not volunteering.