Will You Pay For Online News? Local Paper Takes That Bet

The Tampa Bay Times has joined a growing list of news publications across the country that charge readers to access stories online.

While visitors to the TampaBay.com website can still access up to 15 pages a month, seeing more is now going to cost. The new digital subscriber service also applies to those who get the Times delivered to their homes. Print subscribers, however, will get a price break on the $12 monthly charge others will pay.

In a note to readers, Paul Tash, chairman and CEO of the Times, said the change “reflects the growing importance of electronic publishing.” He also pointed to recent upgrades and improvements on the website and the need for avid users to “support it financially.”

The Times is hardly the first newspaper to charge users for digital access. The New York Times, Dallas Morning News and Newsday all offer online subscriptions, according to Poynter.org. The Times, however, is the first paper in the Tampa Bay area to do so.

Are you willing to pay for your online news? Let us know in the comment box below.