Journalism professor, Jeff Jarvis, has written an interesting piece in this week’s Media Guardian, provoked by the New York Times’ decision to abandon its policy, after two years, of charging for content online. Jarvis proposes that this step is the latest affirmation of:

"a new economy of content online that isn’t built on scarcity and control but instead relies on the idea that content must be public and permanent to realise its value in the wider conversation.”

He suggests that the notion that consumers should come and pay for scarce and controlled information, seeking out brands and entering through the front doors designed for them is dying a death. Instead, people will arrive because of their own needs (ie search) or peers’ recommendations (via links).

He goes on to counsel:

"we in the media must open ourselves to the public in every way possible. Tearing down walls – pay, registration, archive. or just obtuse navigation – is only the start of it. I believe this also means finding more ways for our audiences to distribute us".

Just as the publishing world attempts to get to grips with the seismic shifts de-stabilizing long-held business models and practices, so broadcasting is tasked with similar challenges – and opportunities.

This week sees the announcement of BBC Vision’s multi-platform strategy, as the public service broadcaster continues to re-position itself within a digital world of plenty. A Pact preview of the strategy suggests that the BBC are thinking in a similar way to Jarvis – that real value is not built upon scarcity and control. Rather, as content is woven into the tapestry of the online media ecology, it is about engaging in the wider conversation.

Read the article here

Jeff Jarvis' blog