Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Telegraph looks into online charges

Ian Burrell,Media Editor
Tuesday 22 February 2011 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Telegraph Media Group, publisher of The Daily Telegraph, is understood to be looking at the introduction of a payment system that would charge users for frequent access to its website.

The plan, inspired by a strategy already used by the Financial Times, stops short of the paywall system operated by Rupert Murdoch's News International, which charges for any access to the websites of The Times, The Sunday Times and the News of the World.

If TMG goes ahead with a metered system – where payment is demanded from users who wish to access more than a limited number of articles – it will signal a further shift within the industry towards the notion that charging for digital content is necessary to offset the decline in revenue from print sales.

The British newspaper industry is split into two camps with the publishers of The Daily Mail, The Independent, The Guardian and The Daily Mirror sticking to the philosophy that internet access should be free. The Telegraph – which has a web audience of 31 million – denies it has changed tactics, saying no decision has been made.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in