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Social Implications of Paywalls in a Polarized Society: Representations, Inequalities, and Effects of Citizens’ Political Knowledge

Abstract:

Since the emergence of the Internet, news organizations have been at crossroads. Print operations based on high advertisement rates and a robust subscription model allow media companies to bolster news workers and revenue streams. Contrarily, in online media, advertisement incomes have reduced. Interestingly, while readers’ consumption patterns privilege online news, several studies empirically show that most citizens are reluctant to pay for news services, supporting the culture of free mindset. However, many news organizations implemented paywalls as a response to the general failure of free business models. With this backdrop, do citizens who pay for news, through their news repertoires, have more, less, or similar knowledge about public affairs and politics? More importantly, do paywalls engender news information inequalities among citizens who do not intend to pay for news? This chapter problematizes the presumed effects of paywalls on citizens’ knowledge about public affairs and politics.