Things Worth Paying For, Part I

Everyone seems to think everything on the Internet ought to be free. Journalists, especially, want to be paid for every word they write (preferably, twice), but don’t want to pay for anything on the web.

While I wish everything could be free, we are increasingly facing a choice: Tolerate big, overwhelming ads and pop-ups, or pay a few dollars a month for services we like. I believe you are going to see more and more sites offer two tiers of service. One, a free, basic level, and a second “pro” version, for which they will charge a fee.

Writer and consultant Robert Spears wrote a very good piece on this topic in April 2003 for PaidContent.org that I suggest you read. 

Here are some suggestions for sites/service I believe are worth paying for, along with some suggestions from readers. If you have sites worth paying for, e-mail me at poynter@sree.net (and let me know if I can quote you).

Britannica.com ($59.95 per year or $9.95 per month): The site now has not one, but three encyclopedias — the entire 32 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica; the Britannica Student Encyclopedia, which is designed for students in middle school; and the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, which provides shorter bites of information. I also like the photos, maps, audio, and video that’s served up to users. [ Note for journalists only: A limited number of press versions are available for working journalists by contacting Tom Panelas, PR director, at tpanelas@us.britannica.com ]

ConsumerReports.org ($24 per year or $4.95 per month): Freelancer Shelley Pannill says: “This site is worth paying for for the obvious reason that you can search specifically for the item you are buying, and you don’t have to hold on to reams of magazines just in case you decide to replace the microwave.” Freelancer Autumn Miller adds: “Good for when getting ready to purchase high-ticket items and electronics to get opinions on what to look for and what they found on different brands.”

Vindigo.com ($25 per year or $3.50 per month): Carolann Monroe, director of Web Operations for WABC-TV, recommends this excellent service for your Palm, Pocket PC, or other mobile device. It’s like having a Zagat’s guide with you no matter where you are.

Next Tuesday, I’ll share more sites and services worth paying for. Send your suggestions to poynter@sree.net.

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