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Current Time.
I was sure I was living in February 2025, but this morning, I was shocked to find myself somewhere in 1939.
What does it mean when newspaper owners tell the opinion editor that “viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others?” (📰) What does it mean when the owners of one of the most influential newspapers in the U.S. guide against criticizing the government? After all, they are just being politically correct and simply giving guidance; they would not call it giving orders or issuing commands.
Click the link to read The Guardian's report on this. The 📰 icon near the quote “viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others” leads to The Guardian article.
The real question is, why give such guidance in the first place? The current government won the elections and holds a majority in both houses, so why is there fear of criticism from the minority that lost?
One of Joseph Goebbels’ most infamous quotes states, “The bigger, bolder, and cruder the lie, the more it will be believed.”
Let’s take a moment to learn about Goebbels and understand why it is crucial for the public to support independent content rather than media controlled by the wealthy.
Brief Overview of Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels (📚) was Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda and a key architect of its oppressive regime. He played a central role in spreading anti-Semitic propaganda, controlling the press, and fueling mass deception that enabled the Holocaust and World War II. His manipulation of public perception through media left a devastating impact on history.
Click the link to read more. The 📚 icon near the Goebbels link indicates it leads to Wikipedia or Britannica.
Recap – How We Got Here
The Industrial Revolution, which started in the late 18th century, introduced many technological innovations and completely transformed industries. Steam power and mechanical processes enabled industries to develop products for middle-class people. During the 19th century, innovation accelerated and expanded to additional industries, changing the world entirely compared to what was known before.
One of the essential industries that led the most significant transformation was the mass production of printing. This innovation became a turning point, fundamentally shaping public knowledge, education, and opinion. The mass production of printed materials brought knowledge to the public, educated them faster, and became the most effective instrument for influencing public discourse.
The Shift to Digital and the Decline of Paid Content
Between the 1830s and 1900s, mass printing took off, leading to the explosion of newspapers, affordable books, and widespread literacy. Until the internet became part of our lives, it was crystal clear to all consumers of printed materials that content was not free.
Then everything changed. The internet rewired consumer behavior. Content was made free to teach people how to use digital platforms. But the real goal was never education. It was about keeping users engaged at all costs. And once free became the norm, there was no going back.
The Real Problem: Content Has Value, but Consumers No Longer Pay
Reading online has become more the norm than reading printed materials. When most of the information we consume is digital, but we do not need to pay for it, a fundamental problem emerges.
This affects:
* The credibility of content – Readers struggle to distinguish quality journalism from misinformation.
* The value of creative work – Writers, journalists, and independent creators are expected to work for free.
* Public perception – People believe they deserve free access without considering the effort behind content creation.
This sense of entitlement and privilege has reshaped digital consumption. People will pay for Spotify, Netflix, or Disney+ but hesitate to pay for written content. Why?
How Do We Fix This?
The solution must be developed around the allocation of individual budgets, not the justification of paying for content. After all, we consume content from various online sources and cannot afford to pay for all of them.
A Structured Model for Paying for Digital Content
We need a framework that:✔️ Defines content categories✔️ Establishes a budget allocation system✔️ Creates a sustainable way to support digital content
Here are the initial content categories that need structured payments:
* News and journalism – Newspapers, investigative reporting, political analysis
* Reference and knowledge – Wikipedia, Britannica, educational databases
* Creative and commentary – Substack, Patreon, Medium, podcasts, cultural essays
* Entertainment and independent writers – Newsletters, blogs, long-form articles, serialized writing, digital storytelling
Once the categories are clear, weight allocation must be set. For example:
📊 Suggested budget breakdown:
* News and journalism – 30%
* Reference and knowledge – 40%
* Creative and commentary – 10%
* Entertainment and independent writers – 20%
The numbers above are just random examples. The real discussion should be about how to fairly allocate budgets based on the value content provides to society.
Final Thought
Unlike investors who avoid funding market education, this is an opportunity for competitors to work together. Media outlets have the world’s biggest stages and can amplify these messages to the public. They have the power to reshape this industry.
When the press is not free, we get multiple versions of Goebbels.
What will it take from the public to change that? Because from now on, everything will be in their hands.
To read the postthey talk about, click the links: We Built This Country on Free Content, and Now It’s Collapsing.
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Liat
In this journey, I weave together episodes from my life with the rich tapestry of Israeli culture through music, food, arts, entrepreneurship, and more. I write over the weekends and evenings and publish these episodes as they unfold, almost like a live performance.
Each episode is part of a set focused on a specific topic, though sometimes I release standalone episodes. A set is released over several days to make it easier for you to read during your busy workday. If one episode catches your attention, make sure to read the entire set to get the whole picture. Although these episodes are released in sets, you can read the entire newsletter from the beginning, as it flows smoothly, like music to your ears - or, in this case, your eyes.
The Liat Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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