When Democracy is Behind the Paywall

Taking a break in my love letters because I have had ENOUGH.

I am writing this annoyed because I’m realizing that social media platforms have become a large part of my news sources. From the riots in Minnesota to the redacted Epstein Files, social media feels like the only way to access information.

When I click away from the app into a news publication, I run into paywall after paywall.

After too many attempts, I give up and return to social media, laughing at family pranks and adorable babies instead.

Why’s it so hard to access the news now?

A New Journey

As a new writer, I’m learning that even opinion writers depend on access to credible, intelligible journalism. News articles become our hooks, our evidence, our counter-evidence. Good arguments require good sourcing. It’s what separates credible conversations from fear-mongering. These sources provides feedback for an author, which leads to a new or more nuanced stance. More than once, I’ve been prepared to write a topic but numerous credible sources provided stronger counter arguments that allowed me to change my position.

But there’s also been plenty of times where i’ve abandoned my work for the day, frustrated like a majority of Americans because 74% of all articles are behind paywalls.

We Teach Civic Literacy. Then We Block It.

In 2021, I supported the Louisiana Department of Education as stakeholders rewrote the state’s Social Studies Standards. Our goal wasn’t just academic rigor—it was civic preparation.

Ideally, when students graduated they would be able to: connect historical events to current ones, read a single issue from multiple vantage points, discern author bias/credibility, and weigh competing arguments, and form independent conclusions.

That is academic mastery. It’s also democratic muscle. It’s the main responsibility citizens in democratic governments: stay informed.

And unlike years prior, there’s more access to diverse global opinions. The internet’s abilty to connect teenagers protesting data centers across the globe, should lead to a great enlightenment and strong civic advocacy.

Instead comparison, synthesis, independent judgment are impossible to practice because we can’t read the reporting in the first place.

Paywalls don’t just block content. They block participation.

Unsurprisingly, it’s largely impacting those lower on the socioeconomic ladder. As a recession looms, individuals are tightening their purses. And news subscriptions aren’t making the cut.

Then, they’re blamed on voting day when the election results in harm.

Trying to Stay Informed

In 2024 and 2025, I felt this tension acutely.

After Louisiana elected Jeff Landry as governor and the country returned Donald Trump to the presidency, I promised myself I would become more informed—not less. The news cycle was relentless: a terrorist attack in New Orleans, efforts to rewrite the Louisiana Constitution, a constant stream of federal developments.

Civic disengagement wasn’t an option. Too much was happening.

So I tried to do it “the right way.” I attempted to stitch together subscriptions to local and national outlets. But one article linked to another publication. One subscription didn’t include the next.

Why was it so difficult to find a doctor who clearly explained the impact of leaving the World Health Organization? Where were the environmentalists who could explain the impact of data centers on the environment? Why was finding basic information SO DAMN HARD.

The Issue with Social Media as News

Here’s the core problem: when credible journalism is locked behind paywalls, the public doesn’t stop consuming news.

Like many Americans juggling work, caregiving, and limited time, I increasingly relied on my handheld device for headlines and context.

Social media fills the vacuum when trustworthy journalism is inaccessible.

But those platforms come with consequence. As it becomes clearer that the tech-bros who manage these platforms are bought and paid for, we have experienced an increase in biased algorithms and radicalization pipelines. The US isn’t China, we’re not instituting a ban that forces experts to prove their expertise before speaking. And AI-generated videos are on these platforms masquerading as legitimate reporting. All of these leads to the spread of misinformation.

Journalism Must Be Funded. But This Model Is Failing.

To be clear: journalism must be funded. Reporters deserve to be paid. Newsrooms are under real financial strain. And all news outlets are not created equal. Some have clearly been bought and their news paid for. It’s valid to invest and believe in independent news. But even those article are locked away.

And a system that funds journalism by excluding the public is not sustainable.

More Americans pay for Netflix than for news subscriptions, often citing a deeply ingrained belief that because news used to be free, it should still be that way. Whether or not that belief is fair, it is shaping behavior.

And the ability to be an informed citizen is losing. That’s an issue.

Democracy Should Not Require a Subscription Bundle

Civic participation requires access to information.
Infromed citizens become empowered citizens who sustain democracy.
Journalism provides the public with infromation.

Access to factually sound, ethical reporting cannot depend on disposable income, spare time, or a tolerance for subscription gymnastics.

Until journalism becomes as reachable as it is essential, we will keep asking people to engage in critical conversations while denying them the information needed to do so responsibly.

And until that changes, the public will keep learning about the world the same ways:

TikTok first.
Knowledgable experts (for those who can afford it) later.