Paywalls are going up at scores of US newspapers. The largest publisher, Gannett, has announced plans to charge online users from early next year.
The Chicago Sun-Times and its 39 affiliated suburban titles - owned by a group of investors - will start charging for online content from today.
Gannett's decision, revealed by its chief executive, Gracia Martore to Wall Street stock analysts, is a major shift in its digital strategy. She did not provide details.
Gannett started paywall tests in July 2010 at three of its 82 newspapers. But it has given few clues about the trials. It must be assumed that the experiments have been successful.
It is highly likely that the company will introduce the metered model, allowing some free use. That is the one that the Chicago Sun-Times will employ from today.
Its users, including print subscribers, will be able to read 20 articles a month for free. If they want to see more, they will be required to pay.
There are various schemes, so rates differ. The cheapest is offered to home-delivery subscribers.
Sections that contain mostly advertising will be freely available. And so will the writings of its best-known staffer, the popular movie critic Roger Ebert.
He is a noted opponent of paywalls, having written on his blog last year: "I would hate for my reviews to go behind a paywall."
He said yesterday that he had been informed by the Sun-Times publisher, John Barron, that his site and blog "will not be part of the online subscription plan."
The paper's main, and larger, rival, the Chicago Tribune, remains free online.
Sources: Gannett blog/paidContent/Time Out Chicago
