According to Harvard University’s Nieman Journalism Lab, Google is developing a micropayment platform that would provide a number of mechanisms for newspaper publishers to charge for content online.

Google’s proposals come in response to a request for information to technology firms from the Newspaper Association of America’s for revenue-content proposals.

In the document […] Google outlines its “vision of a premium content ecosystem” that 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.

Technology is one thing. But what the newspaper industry needs is new models. I’m surprised that the proposals aren’t braver. If Google’s ad network was overlaid wholesale on a newspaper web site would it generate sufficient revenue to make it a viable commercial proposition?