"At the time, like most other media in Myanmar, Frontier operated with a traditional, advertising-based revenue model. Circulation revenues, from subscriptions and newsstand sales, were relatively small. But the rise of digital platforms meant that revenue from advertising was plummeting, and what was left was hard to capture without sacrificing editorial independence. Sonny Swe knew he needed to find a new business model. He believed the solution lay in digital transformation, and in mid-2018 he sat down with the editorial team to discuss the options. “We talked about whether we should put up a paywall,” he said. This seemed like the most appealing option, because it was a familiar transaction. Readers would pay to read articles online, just as they pay for a physical copy of the magazine. But there was one big problem, said digital editor Ms Clare Hammond. “Our articles are read online by lots of people who can’t afford to pay for a digital subscription,” she said. “We believe Frontier plays an important role in Myanmar by covering issues that are not covered elsewhere, and providing balanced, in-depth reporting. I really struggled with the idea of making our content exclusive.” Memberships seemed to offer an alternative. Readers who value a media organisation, because they believe it is providing a public service, would help to sustain it by contributing money and sharing knowledge. Sonny Swe admits he was skeptical at first that this would work for Frontier..."