News organizations across America are dropping paywalls to provide extensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Big and small media outlets ranging from The New York Times to the Telegraph-Forum are letting readers read their pandemic coverage without a subscription, reports Dayton Daily News.
“Financial concerns shouldn’t keep anyone away from news and information that could be a matter of life or death,” David Yonke, Telegraph-Forum editor wrote.
Readers are on the lookout for information about local shutdowns and people in the community who have tested positive. Despite lifting paywalls, some news organizations are benefiting as well. Seattle Times executive editor Michele Matassa Flores wrote that “subscriptions have increased as a result.”
However, on the other hand many news outlets, especially local, are suffering from a lack of revenue as local businesses shut down. This has led to many jobs being lost and to the suspension of printing operations.
But news needs to be provided and it’s being done.
