Times To Change

WITH the recent news that both the Times and the Sunday Times are set to charge for online content, it is set to be a big month regarding the future of the journalism industry. Such a bold move could make a staggering difference to an industry that is struggling to keep up with an ever progressing world.

Starting in June, users will be charged £1 for a day’s access to the site, or alternatively could opt to pay £2 for a week’s access to both of the paper’s online content.

The two publications are the first to charge for digital access. The daily payment would guarantee access to the website and the content contained, but the weekly subscription is accompanied by added incentives such as an e-paper and new applications.

Rupert Murdoch has accused search engines such as Google of stealing stories for nothing from other media publications. “We are going to stop people like Google or Microsoft or whoever from taking stories for nothing... there is a law of copyright and they recognise it” said Murdoch. It is though questioned whether people will be willing to pay for a subscription.

There are a few major issues that could concern potential subscribers. Firstly, with news being easily accessible all over the internet from various different sources, such as BBC and various other publications including the Sun and other major national newspapers it would be difficult to persuade people to part with money rather than clicking a couple of links towards another website. Secondly with millions used to and now expecting to be able to access their news for free over the internet, it seems possible that interest in changing habits towards the media will be difficult without offering subscribers something different or physical for their money.

When asked, only 15% of 40 students asked at Canterbury Christ Church University said they would subscribe to the Times or the Sunday Times. The minority that felt subscribing would be worthwhile, stressed that they would consider doing so, only to help the industry push forward. The Journalism industry has been struggling to keep up with the ever digitalizing world. This idea that could form a profitable market could help to save an industry in crisis and freefall over the last few years.