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Hello guys and gals. Yesterday, a group of folks including @essentialsaltes , @JosephZ and others have enlightened me on the ethics of bypassing paywalls, a structure that news agencies use to pay their employees. I now understand that using software to bypass paywalls is unethical (both from a secular, and Biblical perspective), as journalists need food on the table. Plus, I made a new friend here who likes classic anime from 20 years ago. If you want to support news articles, but do not want to use a paywall, some local libraries have licensing agreements with the New York Times, WaPo and other companies to allow library patrons free access to the news, covered by library expenses. That means a journalist can still get money to provide for their families and him/herself.
Today's thread will be on the ethics of gated journalism itself, and if there are potential alternatives to paywall systems for news. For instance, The Guardian and NPR rely on optional donations, as of April 2024. One could hypothetically choose to give a recurring donation of $10/mo to NPR, or a one-time support of £1 to The Guardian. For those who do science research, science journals are notorious for charging dozens of dollars per paper. However, there are scientific journals that have an open access system, such as MDPI, established in 1996. Here is a Guardian Article about paywalled science journals: Paywalls block scientific progress. Research should be open to everyone | Jason Schmitt
The Guardian's Statement of Open News
Alright, to the meat of the matter, from both a secular and theological perspective (cos both sides are beneficial):
From a Secular Perspective:
Secular Arguments for Open Access:
1. Advancement of Knowledge: Making scientific and news articles open access allows for the free flow of information, enabling researchers and the public to build on each other's work, leading to new discoveries and advancements in various fields.
2. Accessibility: Open access ensures that everyone, regardless of their financial situation or institutional affiliation, can access vital information for personal growth, education, and decision-making.
3. Economic Efficiency: Open access reduces the overall cost of research by eliminating paywalls and subscription fees, which ultimately benefits researchers, funding agencies, and the public.
4. Transparency and Accountability: Making information freely available promotes transparency and accountability, as individuals can verify the accuracy and validity of claims made in scientific or news articles.
Secular Arguments against Open Access:
1. Financial Sustainability: Many publishers rely on subscription fees to cover their costs and generate revenue, which could be put at risk if all content becomes open access. Journalists may not recieve a steady stream of income.
2. Quality Control: Open access does not necessarily guarantee the quality or credibility of the information being shared, as anyone can publish online. Therefore, some argue that there should be a way to vet and verify the accuracy of published content.
3. Intellectual Property: Publishers and authors have the right to protect their intellectual property, which can be a challenge when it comes to open access.
From a Biblical Perspective:
Biblical Arguments for Open Access:
1. Pursuit of Knowledge (Proverbs 1:5 ESV): "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." This verse emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding. Open access to scientific and news articles supports this pursuit by making vital information accessible to all.
2. Sharing Knowledge (Matthew 10:16 ESV): "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." This verse suggests that sharing knowledge can help people make informed, wise decisions when going out into the world and distinguish between right and wrong. Open access promotes this by making information readily available to everyone.
3. Transparency (Job 12:22 NIV): "He [God] reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light." This verse highlights the importance of transparency and shedding light on hidden matters. Open access supports this by making information publicly available for scrutiny and verification.
Biblical Arguments against Open Access:
1. Intellectual Property (Exodus 20:15 KJV): "Thou shalt not steal." This verse emphasizes the importance of respecting other people's property, including their intellectual creations. Publishers and authors have a right to protect and profit from their work, which can be a challenge with open access.
2. Discernment (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NAS): "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good." This verse encourages individuals to use discernment and evaluate information carefully. Open access does not guarantee the accuracy or credibility of published content, making it essential for people to critically assess what they read and consult multiple sources.
3. Supporting the Community (Proverbs 11:24 ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." This verse highlights the importance of contributing to one's community and supporting those who provide valuable services. By paying for subscriptions or purchasing access to content, individuals can help support publishers and the broader scientific and journalistic community.
Today's thread will be on the ethics of gated journalism itself, and if there are potential alternatives to paywall systems for news. For instance, The Guardian and NPR rely on optional donations, as of April 2024. One could hypothetically choose to give a recurring donation of $10/mo to NPR, or a one-time support of £1 to The Guardian. For those who do science research, science journals are notorious for charging dozens of dollars per paper. However, there are scientific journals that have an open access system, such as MDPI, established in 1996. Here is a Guardian Article about paywalled science journals: Paywalls block scientific progress. Research should be open to everyone | Jason Schmitt
The Guardian's Statement of Open News
Alright, to the meat of the matter, from both a secular and theological perspective (cos both sides are beneficial):
From a Secular Perspective:
Secular Arguments for Open Access:
1. Advancement of Knowledge: Making scientific and news articles open access allows for the free flow of information, enabling researchers and the public to build on each other's work, leading to new discoveries and advancements in various fields.
2. Accessibility: Open access ensures that everyone, regardless of their financial situation or institutional affiliation, can access vital information for personal growth, education, and decision-making.
3. Economic Efficiency: Open access reduces the overall cost of research by eliminating paywalls and subscription fees, which ultimately benefits researchers, funding agencies, and the public.
4. Transparency and Accountability: Making information freely available promotes transparency and accountability, as individuals can verify the accuracy and validity of claims made in scientific or news articles.
Secular Arguments against Open Access:
1. Financial Sustainability: Many publishers rely on subscription fees to cover their costs and generate revenue, which could be put at risk if all content becomes open access. Journalists may not recieve a steady stream of income.
2. Quality Control: Open access does not necessarily guarantee the quality or credibility of the information being shared, as anyone can publish online. Therefore, some argue that there should be a way to vet and verify the accuracy of published content.
3. Intellectual Property: Publishers and authors have the right to protect their intellectual property, which can be a challenge when it comes to open access.
From a Biblical Perspective:
Biblical Arguments for Open Access:
1. Pursuit of Knowledge (Proverbs 1:5 ESV): "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." This verse emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding. Open access to scientific and news articles supports this pursuit by making vital information accessible to all.
2. Sharing Knowledge (Matthew 10:16 ESV): "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." This verse suggests that sharing knowledge can help people make informed, wise decisions when going out into the world and distinguish between right and wrong. Open access promotes this by making information readily available to everyone.
3. Transparency (Job 12:22 NIV): "He [God] reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light." This verse highlights the importance of transparency and shedding light on hidden matters. Open access supports this by making information publicly available for scrutiny and verification.
Biblical Arguments against Open Access:
1. Intellectual Property (Exodus 20:15 KJV): "Thou shalt not steal." This verse emphasizes the importance of respecting other people's property, including their intellectual creations. Publishers and authors have a right to protect and profit from their work, which can be a challenge with open access.
2. Discernment (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NAS): "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good." This verse encourages individuals to use discernment and evaluate information carefully. Open access does not guarantee the accuracy or credibility of published content, making it essential for people to critically assess what they read and consult multiple sources.
3. Supporting the Community (Proverbs 11:24 ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." This verse highlights the importance of contributing to one's community and supporting those who provide valuable services. By paying for subscriptions or purchasing access to content, individuals can help support publishers and the broader scientific and journalistic community.