Newspapers: The effect of online technology

1) Do you agree with James Murdoch that the BBC should not be allowed to provide free news online? Why? I do agree to a certain extent that the BBC shouldn't be allowed to provide free news online because it makes audiences so used to accessing news for free that institutions that charge for their content aren't getting an audience because they know that they're able to access high quality news for free. However, the BBC operate on a different way as oppose to other institutions because they are funded predominantly by the revenue generated by the television license and are a public service broadcaster. This therefore means that they don't make a profit. 

2) Read this blog on the Times paywall three years on.

3) Was Rupert Murdoch right to put his news content (The Times, The Sun) behind a paywall?Yes, this is because it allows for a stable revenue from loyal audiences and reduces the dependence of adverts to generate revenue. Also through the pay wall, it gains a renewable revenue from its digital audience where beforehand, they had none.
  
4) Choose two comments from below the Times paywall article - one that argues in favour of the paywall and one that argues against. Copy a quote from each and explain which YOU agree with and why.

 'building a solid brick wall around the site - was foolhardy, because how are readers supposed to get a taste in the first place?'

I agree that putting up a paywall would restrict new readers who just want to try their service which would decrease the possible investors in the site. I think that a more suitable method should include a one month free-trial. 

5) Read this article from the Media Briefing on the continuing decline of the newspaper industry. 

6) Why do you think the Evening Standard has bucked the trend and increased circulation and profit in the last two years?

I think the Evening standard has increased trend and circulation because of the method of distributing. The Evening Standard became a free morning paper which was distributed from Monday-Friday at London stations. By being distributed in the morning, it makes it available to commuters travelling to work. Also being available from Monday to Friday, it allows it be embedded in people's daily routine which therefore increases the trend as well as circulation.

7) Is there any hope for the newspaper industry or will it eventually die out? Provide a detailed response to this question explaining and justifying your opinion.

I think that the newspaper dying out is inevitable. This is because the advances and the rise of technology will make buying newspapers a thing of the past. With the convenience that digital news provides, it allows anyone with an internet connection to access the latest breaking news. With this availability that digital news provides users, newspapers have no way of keeping up and will be left reporting yesterday's news. Although buying newspapers have its benefits, the convenience and accessibility that digital news provides makes accessing news though online services much more practical.