View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Digital Journalism
November 26, 2009updated 23 Aug 2022 7:24pm

Johnston Press confirms paywall trial on six weeklies

By Oliver Luft

Johnston Press has confirmed that it will erect paywalls on six of its weekly newspaper websites from next Monday as part of a small trial to assess market impact of charging for online content.

Four English newspapers will take part in the three month trial – they are: the Worksop Guardian, the Ripley & Heanor News, the Whitby Gazette and the Northumberland Gazette.

They will be joined by Scottish weeklies, the Carrick Gazette and the Southern Reporter.

Lori Cunningham, Johnston Press digital strategy director, told Press Gazette the publisher had no immediate plans to start charging for web access on its flagship titles, the Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post.

She said: “Our intention is to just get an understanding of what the customer dynamic is around paid-for content.

“At this stage it’s just a trail for us to understand what is happening; we envisage that it will last for three months.”

Reports yesterday quoting a leaked internal Johnston Press memo suggested that readers will be prevented from viewing content beyond the homepage unless they sign up for a £5 three-month subscription – the equivalent of 40p per week.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Cunningham, a former AOL executive, said the publisher had not set any reader of revenue targets for the trial.

She added: “We have not set specific thresholds; it is just an opportunity for us to learn about what the consumer are or are not willing to do.”

Holdthefrontpage reported yesterday that Johnston Press managers told staff the company intends to roll out the paid-for model across the country in an attempt to monetise its online content.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network