Is WickedLocalNewton, the online version of Newton TAB, now behind a paywall? I just tried clicking on a story and got a pop-up asking me to subscribe for the content (screenshot attached). If this is true, it would be a major shift for the publication, which, as a free community paper and website for decades, had relied mostly on advertising revenue.
Of course, issues with both the Gatehouse business model and the news model, in general, are well documented.
Is the TAB content worth $80/ year for you? Is anyone else getting the same paywall pop-up? Also, will this translate into a subscription model for the print publication?
There’s a red “Subscribe” button in the top margin of the Newton TAB site that takes you to a page with two offers: “Digital Access” ($7.95/month) and “All Access (Digital and Home Delivery)” (many local newspapers listed, but not the Newton TAB). There’s a link to get free digital access if you’re already a print subscriber. I don’t know if that would apply to all of us who are “print subscribers for free,” but when I tried the sign-up process, I found that it seems to be an infinite loop to nowhere.
Yes, there is a paywall, after the first 10 stories in a month’s period. It’s for all Wicked Local publications, though subscribers to paid papers (such as the Wellesley Townsman) merely have to register, though not pay a fee. It was announced in print and online.
The print publication remains free of charge, of course.
I do NOT recommend following that link that says “Already a print subscriber? Click here for unlimited digital access.” I did so, and created an account, to see if my free access to the printed Newton TAB would allow unlimited digital access. After I signed up, the site then told me I had no accessible content, and I found there was no way to close the account. Through their “Help” button, the contact form is inaccessible to anyone without any accessible content, and their contact-support email address is protected/obscured/locked-up.
$80 for about 10 minutes reading time worth of news per paper? Get outta town.. I can probably get a deal to get the WSJ or Economist for that.
Now, if they hired some more people and put together more relevant content, I’d think about it.
The realities of today’s newspaper business. It ain’t Andy’s fault. I’m still amazed that they do so well with so little.
Nope.
I do not condone this action but, just clear the Tab Cookies and you get another 10 reads. The Globe website works the same way.
@FifthGenerationNewtonite: Thanks for the tip, I didn’t know that… How amateurish of the Globe!