I regularly get a requests from readers to make one of my exclusive Political Wire posts available for a small payment, perhaps just a few dollars a post.
While that might sound reasonable, it’s a terrible business model.
That’s why I want to clearly define what Political Wire membership means.
First, it’s not a donation: It’s asking readers to pay money for a product.
The product I’m selling, however, is not any one article. Rather, it’s the production of Political Wire on a daily basis. That includes all posts — not just what’s behind a paywall — and everything I make available in the membership bundle.
A membership is an ongoing commitment to the continued development of this site.
As John Ellis noted:
Political Wire is an essential-reading political newsletter that is now 25 years old. I think of it as the AP of political news: coverage from all over, updating constantly.
How he’s able to do it, day after day, week after week, is beyond me. He posts every day, throughout the day, and often well into the night.
I’m able to do it because of the support from Political Wire members. It’s that simple.
So if you’ve been on the fence about becoming a member, consider this a nudge.
