For every old media company that gets the Internet wrong and slides into obscurity, there will be another company that gets it right at their expense.

That is what's about to happen with AP and Reuters. As AP imitates the RIAA and focuses on protecting its old power centers, rival news agency Reuters is happy to focus on serving users and embracing how the Internet really works.

On July 24, the president of Reuters media, Chris Ahern (@CJAhearn), directed a tweet at Jeff Jarvis saying "Reuters stands ready to help those who wish an alternative to the AP". Now see this column today elaborating:

"I don’t believe you could or should charge others for simply linking to your content. Appropriate excerpting and referencing are not only acceptable, but encouraged. If someone wants to create a business on the back of others’ original content, the parties should have a business relationship that benefits both."

And later:

"Our news ecosystem is evolving and learning how it can be open, diverse, inclusive and effective. With all the new tools and capabilities we should be entering a new golden age of journalism – call it journalism 3.0. Let’s identify how we can birth it and agree what is “fair use” or “fair compensation” and have a conversation about how we can work together to fuel a vibrant, productive and trusted digital news industry. Let’s identify business models that are inclusive and that create a win-win relationship for all parties."

No one has all the answers yet to a thriving new media business model, but I have a lot more faith that Chris Ahern's Reuters is going to be part of it than the Dean Singleton-led AP.