No longer free
It is easy to find examples of corporate greed. I’m going to share one that is local. We have had newspapers in this part of the world since people moved here first. About 200 years ago. And one of the staples of things to list was the most recent death notices. In fact newspapers would add a small paragraph that encouraged other newspapers to copy the content. This was a social value. Well, now we live in a different time. Our local newspapers have been purchased by a conglomerate. And the death notices have moved behind a paywall. I guess that every dollar counts. Those who want to know can always look elsewhere for the content. But it comes back to the fact that families submit these notices fully expecting them to be read by others and now the bean counters at the newspaper office want you to pay for the privilege. Note those same newspapers are not offering to pay either the submitter or the carrier for the content they want free and they want their money. If you wonder why I have little interest in some supporting this model there you have it I no longer buy a newspaper I no longer have one delivered and now I have no longer want to visit their website. Other corporations have tried the paywall and most have dropped it as a poor model of business but not our local journalists. Sad really. For those who are interested in genealogy newspapers are always the first site to visit and now they will be the last. Their choice not mine. I guess when you’re in accounting you only have one goal and that is to make more money for your boss. And when that bus goes away no one will know. Or care.
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