You're wrong. You're right that papers are subscription based and for the most part, always have been. However in the modern newsroom their are wide-screen monitors with real time data of which stories are being read - at least for the online readers. Editors keep close watch and reporters hope their stories get enough clicks to be ranked near the top that day. If your stories are frequently on the bottom of the list, there are consequences. Clicks matter. Dont click on Jerry Sullivan.