One of the arguments behind this was that due of the severe cut backs in the production and distribution of traditional news media here in Canada (I believe similar cuts backs are occurring in the States), mainstream media no longer have the resources to ensure accurate reporting is accomplished especially during a crisis and often leading to inaccuracies. These inaccuracies are then filtered down through all other media outlets including social media. This of course, spreads and magnifies any inaccuracies.

So I agree, as the pay walls go up on all of the news media, it will negatively impact, not the quantity of social media conversation, but the quality. These conversations could be based on inaccuracies coming from traditional news sources due to the lack of resources they have to provide accurate reporting.