More thoughts on “Free”
While “Free” is a book inspired by the power of Internet, for many it all circles back to old fashioned content.
It’s not hard to see why. With newspapers, magazines and other traditional outlets struggling to continue to exist, journalists and opinion leaders worry about a world where conventional news media disappears. We have seen numerous ideas recently about how to “save” old media, such as one really bad (in my opinion) proposal to ban or inhibit linking.
Anderson said he was “cautiously optimistic” that initiatives like this would not succeed in Washington. But it raises a larger question about technology’s role in content and revenue. If am to understand Anderson’s perspective, we are entering a tremendous time for entrepreneurialism. Musicians, film makers, artists and others can parlay their free online work to lucrative business ventures in the future.
In essence, we are remaking our careers as tech start-ups—high on ideas and passion but profits elusive as we take on new skills and grow. As newspapers falter, perhaps journalists can turn themselves into profitable local news operations of one—with a few new tricks thrown in. Already we’ve seen a few examples of this.
Anderson acknowledges that his “free” economic frame work is not universal, but it’s curious to imagine how it might be applied outside the digital world. Would a handyman be able to implement a free/freemium model?
What do you think?
UPDATE 7/10/09: Looks like the Google D.C. team has posted the video from the talk. Check it out!
