Golden Gate Bridge Meets SF Chronicle Paywall

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Hearst Corp.-owned San Francisco Chronicle has erected a paywall for its digital edition SFChronicle.com, but SFGate.com will remain free to visitors, the daily announced today.

According to a report by Cnet.com, digital-only subscribers will be able to access online content for as little as $12 a month, though for the same price, readers can get online access plus home-delivery of the Sunday paper.  For $3.60 per week, subscribers may have digital access to SFChronicle.com plus Friday through Sunday delivery of the paper edition, and $5 a week will net Monday through Sunday delivery along with online access, Cnet.com reported.

Mark Adkins, president of the Chronicle and SFGate.com, wrote in a letter to readers: 

"Subscribers to the new website will find the newspaper's unrivaled content with brilliant photos, an uncluttered format and the familiar design of the Chronicle. Premium stories and columns will update and change with the news throughout the day. Subscribers also will have full access to the Chronicle's most enduring legacy — its columnists."

Will SF Chronicle Erect Paywall or Golden Gate?

Image via WikipediaThe Hearst Corp-owned San Francisco Chronicle is moving closer to greeting visitors to its online edition with a paywall, according to the Bay Guardian and Medialifemagazine.com.

In contrast to the metered payment model recently introduced by The New York Times, the Chronicle is contemplating a "hard paywall" model that would charge online visitors for every article. Although the Chronicle has declined to confirm plans to charge online users, the Bay Guardian story said digital subscribers might be charged $9.99 a month. If the Hearst property follows the trend of other dailies, print edition subscribers would have free access to the online version.

Although no start-up date was mentioned by the Bay Guardian or Medialifemagazine.com, it is expected the Chronicle may introduce a paywall at the same time it debuts its iPad application, which could be as soon as the end of April.

Hearst Corp. Snatches Up French Publisher's Magazines

Image via WikipediaMedia conglomerate Hearst Corp. has acquired French publisher Largardere's non-France-based magazines produced by Largardere's Hachette Filipacchi Media ("HFM") subsidiary located in Manhattan, according to The New York Post.

Hearst has been pursuing  HFM's stable of periodicals, which include Car & Driver, Road & Track, Elle and Woman's Day, for several months (see "TUOL" post 1/3/11). No word yet if HFM staffers, who work in the Time & Life Building, will face layoffs as a consequence of the Hearst acquisition.