Robert G. Picard, an academic specialising in media economics and management, takes a realistic look at journalism as a charitable enterprise:
“Many journalists pursuing new online initiatives are learning that good intentions are not enough for providing news.
“The latest group to do so is former Rocky Mountain News reporters who started rockymountainindependent.com this past summer using a membership payment and advertising model.
“The effort collapsed October 4 with them telling readers, “We put everything into producing content and supporting our independent partners, but we can no longer afford to produce enough content to justify the membership.”