The New York Times announced Wednesday that it would charge frequent visitors to its Web site to view content.
Visitors to the most popular newspaper site in the country will only be permitted to view a still to be determined number of articles at no cost beginning in January 2011, according to the Times. Readers wishing to view additional articles will have to pay a yet to be announced flat fee for unlimited access.
Print subscribers to the Times need not reach for their checkbooks. They will continue to enjoy full access to the site at no additional charge, the newspaper reported.
The Times will be among but a few major newspapers in America to put a considerable amount of content behind a pay wall. The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Newsday are among the few other large papers in the country that currently charge for content.
However, like the Journal, readers who find an article on a search engine will not face reader fees, according to the Times.
Tech Talk applauds the Times’ decision to charge. While some analysts and readers may criticize the decision, Tech Talk recognizes that newspapers need to find additional revenue to continue to consistently provide comprehensive coverage. We hope additional newspapers follow suit.
