BUT WE'RE VALUABLE

I get that the internet upended the business model of print publications, but the obsession with trying to find ways to charge readers for the product instead of trying to find ways - any ways! - to make money on the internets has been weird. I guess I've finally concluded that it comes from a business side that understandably didn't want to learn new tricks, and from the editorial side that can't stand the idea that people might not be willing to pay for the valuable wordsmithing. Subscription prices always just mostly covered printing and distribution costs, with advertising really paying the bills to writers. I get that the internet might make the advertising revenue model not work for certain kinds of publications, especially local newspapers, and that's a shame, but so many publications seem to be obsessed with charging readers instead of making money. It's only the latter part that matters.