VOA标准英语2009年-Google Tries to Appease News Content P

Internet search giant proposes paid subscription¹ model for online news content

Mil Arcega | Washington, DC 04 December 2009

What is Internet content worth in the digital age?

Internet search giant Google is offering news providers a new way to attract paying subscribers without having to remove their content from Google's search results.  The proposal appears to be a compromise following threats by News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch to delist content from his news organizations unless Google pays for it. 

Google is making changes to the way it handles news content, in an apparent attempt to appease³ news providers who claim the Internet search giant is undermining their ability to charge subscribers.

In a blog post called "First Click Free," Google's senior business product manager Josh Cohen wrote:

"Previously⁴, each click from a user would be treated as free.  Now we've updated the program so that publishers can limit users to no more than five pages per day without registering or subscribing⁵."

The surprise move comes after reports that News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch is in discussions with Microsoft to deliver paid access to News Corporation content through rival search engine Bing.

John Ridding, the chief executive of Financial Times, an international newspaper based in Britain, welcomed the move.  "I think for the industry as a whole, it's very interesting and potentially important because there are a lot of publishers who haven't yet developed paid-for models, who are looking at a cyclical and structural⁶ decline in advertising⁷ revenues," he said.

At a time when newspaper circulation is declining rapidly around the world, Financial Times Web site (FT) says its subscriptions⁸ are up 22 percent, while revenues have jumped 30 percent. 

"I think for us, we've already developed a successful paid-for model, which is working very well for us," Ridding said. "And we're seeing very strong growth in subscriptions and subscription revenues."

FT's online readers can currently access up to 10 free stories per month before being prompted to subscribe².  But Ridding says the paper is working on a micropayments system which they expect to roll out as early as next year. 

Ridding says the bigger question is determining what content is worth in the digital age.

 

1 subscription   

n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）

参考例句：

• We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
• Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。

2 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。

3 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 subscribing   

v.捐助( subscribe的现在分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意

参考例句：

• I am subscribing for some of the books of a book club. 我预订了几本这家书刊俱乐部出版的书。 来自辞典例句
• I am glad to have such a pleasant opportunity of subscribing myself. 今后益望努力前途，为国效力。 来自互联网

6 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

7 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

8 subscriptions   

n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助

参考例句：

• Subscriptions to these magazines can be paid in at the post office. 这些杂志的订阅费可以在邮局缴纳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Payment of subscriptions should be made to the club secretary. 会费应交给俱乐部秘书。 来自《简明英汉词典》