In October, on stage at the Future of Business Media conference, the Economist publisher Paul Rossi deliberated on the resurrection of the online paid content model.
Now the website, which since 2007 has charged only for stories more than a year old, tells usMediaWeek’s report stating it will put all its material behind a paywall, is premature.
MediaWeek says: “The Economist is to charge for news content across its website”, while the company tells us: “It’s something that we are considering but nothing has been decided yet.”
If anyone can charge, Economist.com can. Amid an oversupply of information, the magazine is carving out a place for itself as a home for considered analysis and opinion. July-to-December mag sales rose 6.8% to 1.39m copies and operating profits were 26% up to £56 million on 17% more revenue of £313 million.
Online, Economist.com increased its advertising revenue by 29% year-on-year, while page views were up 53%.
One could argue Economist.com’s model right now is the opposite of what it should be – the new material from the £4 printed mag goes free, while the old stuff is charged for. A current web-and-print subscription costs $126.99 a year, while online-only comes to $89.99.