The Economist: premium access through advertising
Ever since I discovered the Economist at my school in Italy, I thought it was a great source of news and analysis. At that time, I would mostly disagree virulently with all of their conclusions, but I recognized that they had the intellectual integrity to write what they felt the facts were. As I put it to my friends; The articles provide you with the information you need, and you are free to make your own conclusions. Back then I was very radical, now I have inched a bit closer to the Economist’s position, although I often find myself disagreeing with their point of view. (I was disappointed, for example, when they supported the war in Iraq).
Either way, it’s an amazing source of news. It’s also one of the few examples we have of a truly global magazine. Certainly, it’s written from a Western/European perspective (it is published in London), but with about half their readers in Asia, and articles every week about Kazakhstan, Haiti, Namibia and Belarus they give you the stories that never make it to CNN or NY Times. I subscribed last year, sharing it with my room mates, but this year I could not afford it. Luckily my password lasted longer than my subscription, giving me access to all the premium content on their website. Visiting their website today, I noticed that they have done as Slate magazine, prompt you to watch a 30 second commercial in order to access the premium content. I was initially split about this, but I think the Economist is such a valuable resource that it is well worth it (and you don’t have to watch the commercial, just surf in another window while it is going on)… I value the Economist a lot higher than half an hour of Everybody Loves Raymond, but during that half an hour, I will probably have to watch 8 minutes of advertising. So well worth it.
Go and read. The Economist.
Stian
PS: Sorry that I have been absent for a while.
