GDPR doesn't prevent a publisher charging for content, or displaying ads. What it says is, if you want to use personal data about a user to determine what ads to display, you have to get their explicit consent.
I have noticed a few of the consent pop ups couching the choice explicitly in this manner. If you don't grant consent to us/our 3rd parties tracking you we will still show you ads, they will just be less relevant.
Advertising doesn't actually require the detailed level of tracking that is used today. Physical newspapers survived with a much more limited set of data when convincing advertisers to place ads.