• Niemanlab.org, Thursday, September 10, 2009 1:01 PM

Like fate itself, a slight shift in Google's direction can impact the fortunes of entire industries. The newspaper industry could now find itself on the right side of that equation as Google is said to be developing a micro-payment platform that will be "available to both Google and non-Google properties within the next year," according to a document the company submitted to the Newspaper Association of America.

An extension of Google Checkout -- which it says can already process subscription payments for news sites -- the system could potentially be the answer to the news industry's prayers as it continues to hemorrhage ad dollars, and itself explores new content payment options.

As a chief aggregator of online content, news publishers have long perceived Google as a threat -- a frenemy, at best. But, before the search giant's new "vision of a premium content ecosystem" is fully realized, the two could end up as BFFs.

The "vision" in includes subscriptions across multiple news sites, syndication on third-party sites, accessibility to search, and various payment options, including small fees for access to individual pieces of content -- popularly known as micro-payments.

"Google believes that an open Web benefits all users and publishers," the company said in its document to the NAA. "However, 'open' need not mean free .... We believe that content on the Internet can thrive supported by multiple business models -- including content available only via subscription."

In a brief paragraph under the heading "business model," Google suggests that it would share revenue in a similar fashion as do the iTunes App Store and its own Android Market, both of which take a 30% cut of revenue.

How Google's plans will tie into the efforts of Rupert Murdoch, and others now pursuing paid models, is not clear. Last month, News Corp. execs met with top publishers -- New York Times Co., Washington Post Co., Hearst Corp. and Tribune Co. -- about forming a consortium based on charging for distributed content, both online and on mobile devices.

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