I had previously been a full-time journalist for a couple of mainstream newspapers in Malaysia from the mid-90s onward. Over the past decade or so, as with most other traditional print media, they look to be on a slow "death of a thousand cuts". If not for their importance to the ruling political parties, they would have bled to death a few years ago.
All the while they have been trying to convert traditional advertising into web-based, i.e. having companies buy ads at their online versions. But things have not moved the way they had hoped for. Paywall and subscription don't work either - rather than fork out money, readers would just find their news elsewhere.
I had left the media for a job with an engineering consultancy company six years ago. But I'd often think about these media companies for I have friends still working in this industry. It would be a shame for these companies to close down, and leaving all those talented writers and editors without a job.
I'm extremely encouraged by this post. There is hope yet for some of the media companies. But they will need the right expertise to implement this new income model to be as successful as this post's writer.
It's been a tough time for traditional journalism, even as the Internet has opened up new opportunities. Let's hope we can be part of the solution.
You certainly are. I'm sure many of those in the media business would at least be heartened by your progress.
I'm going to share this link with those in Malaysia especially. In the hope that some of those involved would initiate something. I wish you more successes in the future. Many are now keenly hoping the same for you.