A Boston area publication, The Telegram & Gazette, recently announced that it would begin implementing a "metered model" paywall over the summer. Jacqueline Reis from the Telegram and Gazette staff announced on their website that the new model would not charge print subscribers for access to online content.

The new model will still give readers free access to the majority of content offered on the website, with the exception of the content produced by the Telegram and Gazette staff. The newspaper's publisher, Bruce Gaultney described the new method as a way to "recognize the value of local news" that would "bring new revenue to support news operations."

Between 2002 and 2006 the TandG's online content was completely blocked by a paywall. The paywall was removed when it fielded to attract a large readership, leading to an immediate "rise in Web traffic."

Many publications have struggled to find a way to make readers pay for online content. The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal stand out as the few publications which have successfully managed to implement a pay wall scheme. Their success comes from the specialized and valuable nature of the financial content provided in their websites. The Telegram and Gazette hopes to channel this idea, believing that readers will pay for content concerning local matters.

If the Telegram and Gazette new 'metered paywall' should prove successful, it might become a modelled imitated throughout the industry. The New York Times and the Times of London also have plans to implement similarly structured paywalls in the coming months.

Source: Telegram and Gazette