Today, the BBC announced it’s introducing a paywall for consumers in the U.S. The move isn’t a total surprise — on June 15, The Guardian reported the plans were in the works — but it is a marked shift in strategy: it’s the first time the broadcaster will directly charge for its journalism…
Given that I’m stateside, this makes me sad. But given that they are funded by UK taxpayers, this is probably the right move.
Of course, that’s just one less outlet for USA citizens to get accurate journalism (better than here, anyway) about what’s happening in our country. Hope Al Jazeera doesn’t follow suit.
Although, you could also argue that those taxes pay for informing and influencing citizens of foreign nations.
America’s media ecosystem is dominated by Fox, Sinclair, and other state party media players. There is a strategic benefit to having a media outlet that doesn’t run through the state media filter.
This is a very important point. There is a reason there is a “cultural victory” in the Civilization games and the UK is definitely ceding cultural influence with this move.
Yeah back in the day we made sure no matter who you were and what was going on you had the opportunity to hear our take on it
Mind you I suppose that still happens thanks to us being a very loud and online people, but having an “America says x” channel in a time where people liked us sure was a good idea
Given that I’m stateside, this makes me sad. But given that they are funded by UK taxpayers, this is probably the right move.
Of course, that’s just one less outlet for USA citizens to get accurate journalism (better than here, anyway) about what’s happening in our country. Hope Al Jazeera doesn’t follow suit.
Although, you could also argue that those taxes pay for informing and influencing citizens of foreign nations.
America’s media ecosystem is dominated by Fox, Sinclair, and other state party media players. There is a strategic benefit to having a media outlet that doesn’t run through the state media filter.
This is a very important point. There is a reason there is a “cultural victory” in the Civilization games and the UK is definitely ceding cultural influence with this move.
Or the reason why the US has had Radio Free Europe for decades.
Yeah back in the day we made sure no matter who you were and what was going on you had the opportunity to hear our take on it
Mind you I suppose that still happens thanks to us being a very loud and online people, but having an “America says x” channel in a time where people liked us sure was a good idea
I believe all such programs were defunded a few months ago…
Guess the Tankies are loving Trump for that one.
Their grants were cut by a Trump EO, and they’re suing to have them reinstated. They’re very much still around.
Glad they’re still there - hope they’re not working without pay anytime soon.
To such an extent that I wonder if there is back-channel influence flowing out of the US pushing for this…