Why Epstein's Secrets Are Still Behind Paywalls

The Financial Times has locked its article "The Epstein rot goes deep" behind a paywall, requiring readers to pay $299 annually (discounted from $540) to access what appears to be crucial reporting on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. This decision highlights a growing tension in digital journalism: the need for sustainable revenue versus public access to vital information.

The Paywall Paradox

The FT boasts over one million paying subscribers, making it one of the most successful paywall implementations in media. But when public interest stories like Epstein coverage get locked away, it raises uncomfortable questions about information inequality. The headline teases readers with the promise of deeper revelations about the Epstein network, but the actual content remains inaccessible to most.

This isn't just about one article. It's about a fundamental shift in how investigative journalism gets funded and consumed. Quality reporting on powerful figures requires significant resources—legal teams, fact-checkers, months of investigation. Publishers argue they need subscription revenue to sustain this work.

The Economics of Truth

The FT's pricing structure reveals the stratification of information access. Their basic digital subscription costs $75 monthly, while premium access includes exclusive newsletters and investment columns. Print subscribers pay up to $409 annually, though current promotions offer steep discounts.

This model creates information tiers. Wealthy readers get comprehensive coverage of scandals involving the elite, while general audiences rely on free summaries or social media fragments. There's an uncomfortable irony here: stories about powerful predators become accessible mainly to other powerful people who can afford premium subscriptions.

The Broader Media Reckoning

Other major publications face similar dilemmas. The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal all employ paywalls, but their approaches to public interest stories vary. Some outlets offer free access to breaking news or stories of exceptional public importance, while others maintain strict subscription barriers.

The challenge intensifies with investigative pieces that carry legal risks. Epstein-related reporting often involves wealthy, litigious individuals who can afford aggressive legal strategies. Publishers need sustainable revenue streams to weather potential lawsuits and fund continued investigation.

The Democratic Cost

When crucial information about corruption, abuse, or institutional failure gets locked behind paywalls, it undermines the democratic function of journalism. The people most affected by elite misconduct—those without disposable income for multiple news subscriptions—become the least informed about it.

Yet the alternative isn't simple. Without sustainable business models, quality investigative journalism disappears entirely. Local newspapers across America have shuttered, leaving communities without watchdog coverage. The choice isn't between free and paid journalism—it's between paid journalism and no journalism at all.