The truth costs money.

I was on Reddit—an ironic choice considering the platform’s ongoing monetization—and stumbled across a link to CNN. Curious, I clicked, only to be met with a paywall. CNN, it turns out, no longer offers free access to all content. To read the article, I had to subscribe.

It hit me then: I already subscribe to several news outlets. How many subscriptions does it take to stay informed? Meanwhile, Fox News remains free—a sobering thought.

This realization spiraled into a more significant concern: the divide between free and paid information. The truth, it seems, costs money, and misinformation? It’s cheaper than ever. And that has dangerous implications.

But here’s the catch: not everyone can afford subscriptions. As a result, many turn to free platforms, where misinformation festers because it generates clicks. Clicks equal ad revenue, and ad revenue beats truth when it comes to profit. The market rewards what’s profitable, not what’s ethical.

This isn’t just a media problem. It’s systemic. It reminds me of the myth of free shipping. Someone is always paying—be it warehouse workers earning minimum wage or delivery drivers racing the clock.

The internet thrives on this same model. Free information isn’t free; the cost is hidden. Maybe it’s a deluge of ads. Maybe it’s your personal data being sold. Or maybe it’s society itself, paying the price as public discourse becomes polluted with misinformation.

I wondered: what are we, as a society, willing to give up for convenience? For affordability? The answer seems to be truth.

Steve Berry
Principal, Thought Merchants