Legal Commentary

New York Times To Charge for Online Access

By Jeralyn

The New York Times will require paid subscriptions to access more than 20 articles a month commencing March 28. Here's the letter from the publisher outlining the terms.

When the Times went this route a few years ago with respect to its editorial content, the plan backfired. Will it be different now? And what if other major dailies follow suit?

It may not be as bad as it sounds. First, even non-subscribers will get 20 free articles a month. And, if you get home delivery, even for just the Sunday Times, you get free, full digital access on your computer, smartphone and tablets.

For blog writers and readers, the silver lining is this:

Readers who come to Times articles through links from search, blogs and social media like Facebook and Twitter will be able to read those articles, even if they have reached their monthly reading limit.

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I take that to mean that so long as I have a digital subscription, I can link to NY Times articles on TalkLeft and TalkLeft readers will be able to read the article for free. That's very smart of the Times, because blogs would stop linking to Times articles if they knew their readers couldn't read them without a paid subscription.

I probably link to NY Times articles than any other paper. I'm already fully subscribed, so I'm glad that I won't have to change that and that TL readers will be able to read the linked articles regardless of whether they have a paid subscription.

If you don't want to pay for home delivery of the Times, you can also pay for just the digital edition. The rate is $35 for four weeks, but on March 28 when it rolls out, there will be special offers.

The problem is going to be if other papers follow the Times' lead. So what do you think? Have we just become spoiled with all the free news content the internet has given us over the past decade? Or should papers continue to provide free access to all?

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 17, 2011 (boomark / email).