'Support Independent Journalism'

Web magazine Salon has taken an interesting approach to turning a profit in the online world. Not, apparently, content with serving up ads, the publication offers users a chance to pay a monthly fee and "support independent journalism." It's somewhat evocative of the pledge drives PBS and NPR run, and the site is still up so it apparently has worked to some extent. Like the tote bags you might get for sending PBS money, Salon also offers bonuses for people that join Salon Premium. For one, subscribers can participate in the official Salon forum and they also get to browse the site sans ads. Other bonuses include discounts to online retailers and the like, and the pricier memberships include "free" books and DVDs.

Of course, as I've written previously, I already browse Salon without ads. What, then, is my motivation? I'm certainly a supporter of independent journalism, but aren't there enough bloggers out there doing independent Web reporting without me paying them a monthly fee? The argument is likely that Salon's salaried staff makes them more credible than your run-of-the-mill blogger, but people are used to things on the Internet being free. It will be interesting to see how far this business model takes them.