Daily Herald to Charge for Online Content

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 30, 2011 9:30PM

The Daily Herald announced today they'll start charging for online content, effective Sept. 7.

Douglas K. Ray, CEO, Publisher and Chairman of Daily Herald parent company Paddock Publications, explained the decision in a staff memo :

“Why is it necessary to charge for digital access? We invest significantly in reporters and editors and an infrastructure that provides tailored coverage of local news, suburban business developments, politics and entertainment as well as sports from the pro levels to preps. We believe that what we do has value to our readers and to the community. A new payment structure will enable us to continue to provide the kind of quality local news and the journalism expected from the Daily Herald.”

Current Daily Herald print subscribers will be able to access digitized content at a rate of an extra $1 a week. Digital only subscribers will be charged $19.99 for a 30-day subscription. the paper is also launching smartphone apps for iPhone and Android, an iPad app.

The Daily Herald becomes the first area newspaper to charge for online content.