WALL STREET JOURNAL MAKES SOME CONTENT FREE ONLINE
January 14th 2008 02:00
The Wall Street Journal is to start letting readers look at paid-for website content including editorials, opinion pieces and video interviews for free, according to the Guardian.
The move, which could be a precursor to a complete scrapping of WSJ.com's subscription funding model by new owner Rupert Murdoch, was described by the paper as being ‘as close as we'll get to conceding there is such a thing as a free lunch’.
The journal will launch a new free access website for all its editorials, op-ed pieces, video interviews and commentary.
One US report on the shift on Thursday argued that it was a ‘smart hybrid move’ that would allow the journals columnists to take on the blog world, as New York Times writers already do, without making all the content free.
TechCrunch, which has always got something to say, said the Wall Street Journal’s move is a “concession to increased competition from the blogosphere and other newspapers throwing in the towel on paid-subscription walls for online content. Does that mean the rest of the paper will soon be free online as well? It is certainly in keeping with new owner Rupert Murdoch’s previous public statements.
“…As more and more readers move online, they will expect their news to be free and ad-supported, as it is today on 99 percent of the Web. Even the Wall Street Journal cannot fight market forces and consumer preference forever.”
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