THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: …While details are being finished, people familiar with the matter said that a metered paywall—meaning a website that allows casual readers to read a certain number of stories free before charging a subscription fee — is likely to be rolled out in 2013, along with increases to the print newspaper’s newsstand price. One person familiar with the matter said the paywall will be introduced no earlier than next summer.
The Post is dealing with a steep decline in its core business of print advertising. Its newspaper division reported an operating loss of $56.3 million for the first nine months of the year, reflecting a 14% decline in revenue to $160.7 million. The company lost its chief revenue officer in the spring, and the search for a replacement continues.
Most other newspapers in the country, including the New York Times and Gannett Co.’s local papers, have introduced paywalls in the past year or so, generating increased circulation revenues that offset print advertising losses. But among major newspapers, the Post has stood almost alone in its decision to keep its website free. The Wall Street Journal’s website has always had a paywall… (more)
EDITOR: As suggested here last week, the Washington Post made an unfortunate decision a year or so ago to concenterate more on local news to support its newspaper circulation. With the Paywall, the Post will be have an incentive to compete for readership worldwide, which means likely spending more for national and worldwide coverage. The Post is a national jewel, second only to the New York Times in providing important coverage. It would be a great loss for it to fade away.
