An idea for Chris Ahearn of Reuters who has requested alternatives to the AP digital wrapper system for charging for content licensing in whole or in clips. Chris Ahearn of REuters has asked for ideas, is encouraging collaboration to improve the media marketplace: http://snurl.com/ouf4i
Our comment on this article follows and below is explanation of our idea . . .
Chris,
Encouraging to hear a voice promoting collaboration to improve the status quo instead of defending “what is.”
Bloggers, news aggregators, and traditional media all have opportunity to create new value for consumers and thus new revenues and profits.
We are passionate about the value of creativity. Our economy has suffered by a lack of creativity. One reason is the marketplace has pushed all the risk on the creators.
To “spread the risk” of creating, the market needs a 1 click transaction system that rewards quality content, media that inspires responsive audiences, and audience participation with integrity.
There are multiple ways Reuters may benefit from this kind of system. Ranging from the revenues generated from licensing its content to the new prospective content that could emerge from independent creators who would be enabled financially by a transaction system that connects quality content supply with the demand for it.
Consumers are demonstrating they will pay. Consumer purchases for media surpassed ad revenues in importance to communication revenues in 2004 (VSS). HBO, Showtime, et al are enjoying record subscription levels and profits.
Once a transaction system exists, creators and technology companies can focus on how to compete for those revenues.
THE IDEA:
The goal is to reward desired behavior. Quality content is paid for, media sites with responsive audiences are rewarded with affilitate fees, and readers have a transparent way to identify what they want. No more tricky, bait and switch tactics.
Here's how it works.
Fred is writing an article about the future of media. He has two choices, set-up his point with several paragraphs of original copy, or "buy" a NYT quote that does it in one sentence. Fred is a subscriber to the NYT. His monthly subscription includes X # "clip content licensing" credits, access to content and a tool to find and interact with writers and like-minded readers. So with one click, he acquires the quote and is debited a point.
I am subscriber to the NYT and Fred's blog. When I read his post and I link to read the entire NYT article, his account accrues a credit point.
If the NYT wants to quote him, as they did today, referring to this post, the reverse would be true. They would be debited a point and Fred would be credited a point. If the NYT links send traffic to Fred, he would be debited and the NYT would be credited points.
Importantly, as a reader, I've subscribed to the bank too and I automatically pay a monthly subscription fee relative to the websites (blogs and papers) I subscribe to. I can add or delete these with one log-in and one click.
