May 30, 2003
A micro-payment experiment
Two weeks ago, David Appell, a full time freelance science writer, start an experiment if he could raise $200 from contribution from his readers, he would publish his investigation of Sugar Association’s pressuring WHO on its diet study.
That’s interesting. Some would obviously think this guy is crazy and his study not even worth the spent of 5 bucks. Some just raise the hand, take the money out of pocket: count me in! Of course 5 dollars is just what you spent to get any single magazine, where you probably only interested in one or two articles inside. If his essay is thoughtful and valuable, why not? That’s a pretty good path to independent journalism.
In Malaysia, RM5 would easily settle a lunch. People here don’t seem value information (or, knowledge?) that much though. The economic model is different. But I wonder if some good writer want to offer an article for RM 0.50, would anyone consider to take it?
David’s experiment outcome seem quite encouraging. He got $370 within 24 hours. And up to May 23, he’d received $425 so far. There are people care and interested in reading about sugar, diet and politics. He got the market, well done.