HN user
Of course there is the small detail of removing agency from the internet user at that point. Maybe I don't want to support local/regional news or maybe that extra fee is going to make the access untenable for me.
Beyond that it would devolve into a scenario where entities would begin trying to game whatever system is created to get a cut of the pie.
Forced support is not the answer.
There is a general quality issue. Do they even use editors any more? the bad writing alone should be embarrassing.
<$1 isn't a micro-transaction imo. It needs to be a fraction of cent.
Micropayments can work.
They have to be micropayments though. That means show me the headline, a brief synopsis, and if I want to read the full article I pay a few fractions of a cent.
The problem is that most services want to make a killing without doing any real work. Automated ad feeds, new services etc without any internal reporting doesn't provide a service that people want or need. Also, people are not going buy dozens and dozens of services at $5/month to $20/month each. Even a buck a month is too much when you get beyond a certain point.