Media Websites Services and Users Subscription: Models for Online Journalism

Abstract

A crucial question that has arisen is whether the involvement of Web users can be extended to the funding of news organizations aimed at their financial independence from traditional funding practices. The evolution of multimodal media websites, the media crisis and the growing dissatisfaction of the citizens, create the conditions for online journalism to work with citizens, and through emerging journalistic practices such as crowdsourcing. This concept is a form of collective online activity in which a person or a group of people volunteer to engage in work that always involves mutual benefit to both sides. The main research question of this paper concerns the analysis of the current situation regarding crowdfunding and the adoption of best practices on the technological features, services, and tools used by websites around the world. Very few media have tried to apply even nowadays, the proposed model of journalism, which this study is going to research. The results of the study shape new perspectives and practices for participation, journalism, and democracy.