Google Reader Revenue: control or solution?

Increase newspaper revenue from readers, subscriptions and contributions. One of the biggest challenges for local and small newspapers has gained an important ally: Google Reader Revenue allows any online newspaper to install a paywall or a crowdfunding system. But is it a good idea to leave all the information with Google?

I've been a Wordpress developer since 2009 and installing paywalls has always been a challenge. Most paywall tools are paid or bad and newspaper owners do not want or cannot afford to purchase these tools. Because of this, most online local newspapers in Brazil and the US do not have paywalls installed. In Brazil, the option is free content. In Portugal, restrict to the printed version.

So, this year Google launched Reader Revenue, a tool for newspapers registered on Google News to earn revenue from readers. The editor registers the newspaper, receives a code to place on the website and decides: to use the paywall or crowdfunding. Google's idea is that anyone can apply and manage the service, without knowledge of HTML and programming.

The tax is 5% per transaction. Reader payment and revenue management are done by Google Pay. The service is available in the USA, Brazil and other countries, but not in Portugal and European Union countries.

Paywall da Google, Ads da Google, Analytics da Google…

With Reader Revenue, Google completes the toolkit for content producers. It is possible for a journalistic project to be carried out using only Google tools. Adverts? Google Adsense. Statistics? Google Analytics. Marketing? Google Search and Ads. And now, paywall or crowdfunding? Reader Revenue.

Even privacy policy, mandatory in European countries and USA, the Google offers a tool for cookie consent. If you're reading this article from Europe, you've already seen Google's cookie window. The question is: how dangerous is it if we leave everything to the same company, the same bigtech?

Firstly, it's important remember that legacy media (newspapers, TVs, radios) had already lost the control of information mediation to bigtechs like Google, Facebook and TikTok. These companies control, trough social media networks, public topis and discussions and what's is of public interest. But now, dependence on Google may grow with Reader Revenue.

Newspapers need the Google system to be read, found, to increase their audience, to obtain revenue from advertisers and readers. All information is controlled and managed by the same company, which earns a lot from it.

Brasil 247 and 2630 act

This blog said about 2630 act, which wants to regulate bigtechs in Brazil. Google was the company that worked hardest to lobby against the project. The company has tools to support journalism, but wants to maintain control of information and money on the internet. Why give money to newspapers if we can support and control all newspapers?

On the Google Reader Revenue home page, there is a case from the digital newspaper Brasil in Brazil: Brasil 247. Coincidentally, this is the newspaper that defended bigtech against the 2630 project. Thus, Google has a poster child, a media that applied all the tools and is satisfied.

Finally, it is necessary to emphasize: the objective of this article is to spark debate. It is obvious that the Google tool is very interesting, especially for small newspapers, not properly included in Google AdSense. But care must be taken: newspapers should never depend on just a single source of revenue. And that includes a single company with multiple tools to make money.