Abstract
Digital innovations have revolutionized the business model of news organizations, which previously relied heavily on advertising. Digital media companies have adopted various revenue streams such as branded or sponsored content, subscriptions or memberships, direct public subsidies or private grants, and electronic commerce to ensure the sustainability of digital outlets. However, these different types of funding have also impacted the boundaries of journalism. A more market-driven approach to news may undermine the crucial social role that journalism plays in modern democracies, as market dynamics may displace journalistic criteria. Additionally, the paywall model, which charges for exclusive and high-quality content, may exacerbate the gap between those who can afford it and the majority who cannot access it.
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This chapter is part of the R&D project Digital-native media in Spain: Typologies, audiences, trust building and keys for the journalistic sustainability (PID2021-122534OB-C22), funded by MCIN/10.13039/501100011033/ and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”.
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Vara-Miguel, A., Sánchez-Blanco, C. (2023). The Impact of Market-Driven Revenues on the Boundaries of Journalism. In: Negreira-Rey, MC., Vázquez-Herrero, J., Sixto-García, J., López-García, X. (eds) Blurring Boundaries of Journalism in Digital Media. Studies in Big Data, vol 140. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43926-1_5
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