The Punch, Australia's cheapest conversation?

(Above: the good old days when an amateur rag would only cost you a couple of pence).

While on the subject of The Punch - Chairman Rupert's contribution to the blogosphere, self celebrated in its own lunch time as Australia's best conversation - I was astonished to discover that the site is currently not paying contributors.

Perhaps that explains all the self-serving promotional puffery from politicians, ostensibly in the interest of keeping the contributions at top "best-est" level, but really because they'd turn up to a dog fight and make a speech if they thought there was a vote in it.

And it's certainly in the tradition of blogosphere rants of the amateur kind. But this from a billionaire who's carrying on about the need for content to be paid for? So journalists can receive their rightful reward? In the new dynamic world of investigative journalism and citizens forking over their cash in the paw?

Chairman Rupert couldn't kick the money box for a token gesture of appreciation to his contributors for their valiant work in getting this new medium going?

I still can't believe it's true, but here's a comment from Lucy in a rather earnest piece Should we write for free on the Meanjin Quarterly site:

I find this such an interesting debate and mostly because I am working at The Punch, a new News Ltd wesbite currently not paying contributors.

I have been really blown away by the fact that this hasn't affected the amount of people wanting to write for us. In fact we are inundated with fantastic writing from eager emerging writers who get just as much 'of a go' as the more established ones.

Well yes sweet Lucy in the sky, who doesn't mind contributors aren't getting any diamonds, you aren't the only one to be blown away.

I know the plan is that we will eventually pay for writing and this is important for the long term. But there is so much to be gained as a writer just by having a supportive outlet.

Ah  supportive. Like a good pair of Dr. Scholl's shoes. And they'll eventually pay for writing, just like you'll get some of that sweet apple pie in the by the by (perhaps there might even be the odd vestal virgin for the younger male writers on hand when they enter Murdoch heaven).

So maybe it's more about what you decide is important to you.

I personally think you gain just as much from being edited and getting feedback from readers of your article and the senior people that edit your work, than you do getting paid for it.

Why yes, getting paid is just so sordid and professional. Soooh much nicer to enter by the amateur gate when one saunters on to the cricket pitch, far removed from those ghastly, grimy professionals, with either coal dust or printer's ink stuffed up their fingernails. Likely to be fast bowlers too, the cads, rather than an elegant strokesperson hitting leather with willow into the covers.

With senior people right behind you, and always to hand with an abundant supply of KY jelly to make the medicine go down so smoothly.

But in saying that I decided long ago that I would be prepared to write for free as long as I felt my writing was improving. I have also always had other non-writing jobs to create an income.

I do admire people who stick to their guns on wanting to be paid. This is a sacrafice and i hope it pays off for the people that do.

Dearie me, the oldest shill in the book, and Chairman Rupert is pulling it on writers who just want to be published and luuuvved.

Onward fair world of the amateur, yet the sly cunning old dog has the cheek to talk about the need for readers to fork over cash so that he can bring us a brand new world of investigative journalism.

I guess this means all the News Corp hacks contribute for free (or a kind word or at least for the love of god, a bottle of Penfolds red), while the other amateurs write for the pleasure of being associated with Chairman Rupert.

But I still have my suspicions. After all sweet Lucy writes about "sacrafice" in the context of writing for free in the hope her writing will keep on improving. 

The trouble is, if you do it for free, you clearly can't afford a computer with a decent spell checker.

By golly, that's just firmed my resolve something shocking. The day Chairman Rupert gets his cash from my hand for his new world of internet content, he'll be prizing it from my cold dead hand as they lower me into the grave.