If you build an engaged crypto community around your user generated news network vision, there must be folks in there that can write at least decently.
Additionally, you had good writers until now and that didn't lead to success. Folks didn't want to read what your non organic, paid staff writers wrote.
Why not let the people contribute content for tokens as opposed to just cutting off content. How could that possibly lead to any good outcome?
The reason good writers didn't lead to success is that distribution wasn't good enough. The key missing factor is distribution. Once developers solve that they'll be able to get people who understand the token and want to receive it as payment.