WSJ to implement micro-payment system

by Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh, revolutionmagazine.com 11-May-09, 11:15

LONDON - The Wall Street Journal has revealed plans to begin charging casual users for access to individual articles, following proprietor Rupert Murdoch's prediction that newspapers cannot continue to offer free online content.

Robert Thomson, managing editor of the WSJ said the micro-payment system will apply to non subscribers wishing to access individual articles and will give existing subscribers access to premium niche markets, such as energy and commodities.

The system aims to complement the WSJ's online subscription model, which charges over one million users $100 or more per year for access to selected editorial content.

Thomson said a pricing structure had yet to be decided, but articles would come with "a rightfully high" price tag.

Last week, News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch, which includes the WSJ as one of its titles, said he was thinking of introducing charges for online content to his portfolio of UK newspapers, including The Times, as ad revenue in the UK newspaper division fell 21 per cent last quarter.