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Caledonian Mercury

Caledonian Mercury seeks readers' donations

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

January 27, 2011 | 2 min read

Scottish-based online newspaper the Caledonian Mercury has celebrated its first birthday by launching an online appeal for readers to donate money.

It is inviting readers to pay between 50p or 3p a day to help finance the website on a voluntary basis. The site has no plans to put content behind a paywall.

Writing in his blog editor Stewart Kirpatrick said: “Why are we asking our readers for money? What does this mean?

“Does it mean the Caley Merc’s in the toilet and now I’ll dance for change? Is our team of 'Scotland’s leading freelances' now available for children’s birthdays, weddings and Bar Mitvahs?

“No. (Though my balletic interpretation of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” has to be seen to be believed.)

“We haven’t asked our readers for money because we’re desperate but because we want to find a 'third way' between advertising and charging for web content - which I still think just does not work. Online advertising just does not pay the bills - not for us, not for anybody. “

As well as inviting readers to donate money the site is also looking at creating other revenue streams including paid for apps, podcasts and other publications as well as launching a ‘paid for’ blog service.

Caledonian Mercury

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