July 4, 2010 by Simon King
Over the past few months there has been a lot of debate about the newspapers in the UK. As people who work within social media, we need to keep savvy about what is going on around us, and make sure we stay abreast of new developments and technologies. This means that, like any other company, we need access to high-quality news.
The Times newspaper has this week launched a new site which charges people for a subscription to read their articles. At a time when more and more people are seeking out information online, the newspaper trade is at risk. Fewer people have papers delivered, as we realise that it’s quicker, more economical (free!) and better for the environment to pop online and get updates.
Sites such as the BBC news pages provide real-time updates and articles, and a magazine which offers personal perspectives about things which are going on all over the world. It’s also free. The Guardian has also promised to keep their news site going without charge to readers.
The Times now charges £1 per day for access to their site, or £2 weekly if readers sign up for an ongoing subscription. This action sees them joining the ranks of the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.
The move has seen Times online traffic drop significantly, showing that people are protesting at having to shell out for a service which was previously free. Although we are happy to pay for a paper, it seems that the UK public are resenting the new charging system. All other major papers rely on advertising revenue to stay afloat.
Internet statistics are showing that visitors to The Times have then gone on to seek out news online from the Telegraph and Guardian. With so much competition out there for site visitors, it remains to be seen whether the Times can retain its readership.
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