MAKING SPACE FOR DEMOCRACY COMES AT A PRICE, ESPECIALLY BY THE FULL PAGE
Unlikely as it may seem, local publishers could be pinning their hopes for new revenue sources on a vigorous pay-for-what-you-say debate erupting in their advertising columns on the pros and cons of democracy in Hong Kong.
To get the ball rolling, Apple Daily chairman Jimmy Lai Chee-ying this week came up with the smart notion that he would personally sponsor anyone willing to place an ad in his newspaper that promoted democracy. The offer to share the costs of the ad followed on the provocation from a previous ad placed in his paper by a 78-year old businessman who presumably paid for the satisfaction of musing in print: 'Tell me. Will I live to see universal suffrage?'
It is not immediately apparent to Lai See whether Mr Lai's offer of half-priced democracy appeals will generate extra dollars for his Next Media but we note with interest that a counter-blast to the opening salvo from the 78-year-old democracy dreamer has already appeared in a full-page ad that appeared in a rival newspaper.
Now publishers are dreaming fondly perhaps, of a 'one man, one ad' system?
E-MAIL KING RULES AROUND THE CLOCK
