New York Times Editor-in-Chief Promotes Paywall System in Lucerne
For Jill Abramson, editor-in-chief of The New York Times, one thing is clear: paid content on the Internet, yes; a closed paywall, no. At the opening of the second Swiss Media Forum on Thursday in Lucerne, the 57-year-old also promoted the NYT’s paywall system.
She said she was glad that the Swiss Media Forum wasn’t focusing on the question, «Will newspapers survive?» She’d much rather focus on the digital revolution. For Abramson, one thing is clear: The internet isn’t a threat—it’s the future. According to Abramson, online media and quality journalism are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary. She loves the stories behind the stories; she wants to shed light on political processes in the U.S. And above all: «I want to spread our quality journalism globally,» she said.
To achieve this goal, The New York Times employs 1,150 journalists in its newsroom—where print and online editorial teams work together. ‘We publish stories when they’re ready, on the platform that works best,« said Abramson.
NZZ Also Launches a «Paywall»
Abramson had launched the payment system for the online edition of The New York Times, known as the paywall. Readers get 10 articles per month for free; after that, they have to pay. The system has attracted attention worldwide, including in Switzerland. The NZZ, for example, recently announced that it would implement a paywall this fall.
But Abramson does not see making the entire content of the online edition paywalled as a solution: «It’s important to remain part of the open web.» With a closed paywall, you’re no longer part of the public discourse, said the investigative journalist, who remains the only woman to date at the helm of a major U.S. newspaper
In addition to Jill Abramson, speakers at the second Swiss Media Forum—which runs through Friday—include Swiss CEO Harry Hohmeister and Germany’s former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. 340 people from the media, business, and politics are attending the conference. (SDA)
