JULY 16, 2009 5:33PM

The pay walls are coming!

Rate: 4 Flag

By Katharine Mieszkowski The editor of the Financial Times predicts that within a year most news Web sites will start charging for content online.

"How these online payment models work and how much revenue they can generate is still up in the air," Lionel Barber, the editor of the Financial Times, said in a speech at a Media Standards Trust event at the British Academy last night, according to the Guardian. "But I confidently predict that within the next 12 months, almost all news organizations will be charging for content."

The Financial Times already has 110,000 paying subscribers to FT.com, along with 1.3 million non-paying registered users. The Financial Times gives access to a limited number of articles on its Web site before asking online readers to subscribe. 

"We are seeing sustained and growing revenue as a result of our strategy of premium pricing for quality, niche global content -- crucial at a time of weakening advertising," Barber said. He noted that the New York Times is now considering charging for access to its Web site.

The Times will reportedly make a decision about charging within three or four weeks.In May, News Corp's Rupert Murdoch said that he expects his newspapers' Web sites to start charging within the year, calling free online content a "malfunctioning" business model, and declaring: "The current days of the Internet will soon be over."

Author tags:

future of journalism, lionel barber, katharine mieszkowski, newspapers, news, financial times, new york times

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So they will drive people onto the free blogs more? Hmm. Sounds like a plan to me.
LaRae Meadows
July 16, 2009 07:56 PM
As a guy who has been producing content for online consumption for over 15 years, I freely admit that I have *no idea* what the next publishing model will look like. I only know a couple of things for sure: I wouldn't trust Rupert Murdock's opinion in this area at all; he may be a brilliant media mogul, but he don't know diddly about technology. And second, the last time the NY Times tried a pay wall, well, it didn't work out so well.

Other than that, I have no idea. But at least I'm willing to admit my ignorance.
Douglas Moran
July 16, 2009 07:57 PM
theoretically, it makes sense. but then, often that's the case with theories. bad economy to push charges, esp. when it's likely the essence of the articles will show up as blogs, tweets and everything inbetween. will be interesting to see...
cindy capitani
July 16, 2009 08:24 PM
I've been thinking about this, expecting it.... I'm not much of a futurist, but it I were a betting gal:

I'd say what will happen is that content options will be "bundled" with your ISP services. So, for example, media conglomerates will contract with Verizon to provide several packages - option A, you get local news access plus one premium media outlet of your choice (NYT, WSJ); option B, you get local, some regional and 2 premium media outlets of your choice. Or, I could be wrong, and Thomson offers more a cable-like section of various media "channels," etc., at affordable consumer pricing (because it's been pretty expensive up to this point, but I haven't checked lately).

They need readers. We need content. We meet in the middle at the highest possible price they think we can afford.

Add the Kindle in there somewhere, too.
Lisa Romero
July 16, 2009 11:58 PM
TFoJ has probably already discussed this entry in the paid-content arena, but just in case:
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-brill-crovitz-and-hindery-team-up-to-solve-news-cash-woes-with-journali/
mggray
July 17, 2009 02:51 PM