More Papers Implement Online Subscription PayBack to News

Will the Washington Post be the last newspaper providing its content online for free?

In the wake of the success of the New York Times’ "metered" online subscription model, a veritable stampede has begun among newspapers to begin charging for access online The New York Times reported that it ended the second quarter with more than 1 million digital subscribers, nearly a quarter of which are not print subscribers also.

The Dallas Morning News, another early adopter, has said that it is adding 2,000 digital subscribers a week. The Morning News has a “hard” wall, meaning that you have to pony up to get any online content.

Meanwhile, editor Marcus Brauchli continues to insist that the Washington Post has no plans to follow suit. Here is rundown of some recent converts, which include some of the nation’s largest newspaper companies:

Lee Enterprises rolled out its first digital subscriber system at its newspapers in the Mountain West. These will have a metered model.

MediaNews Group put metered models in place at its smaller ewspapers in New Mexico, California, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Massachusetts. This one will be interesting to watch since new CEO John Paton has been a strong supporter of free online content.

The Baltimore Sun announced plans to become the first Tribune Co. newspaper to introduce a digital subscription plan.