San Jose Mercury News Will Soon Charge For Online Content

So it seems the folks at the San Jose Mercury News have announced plans to start charging for access to their website. Other papers in parent company’s Media News chain could follow suit, including The Oakland Tribune and Marin Independent Journal. The wisdom of this move is questioned by Christopher Null on his tech blog:

Now it’s one thing when massive nationals like the Wall Street Journal do this, but the San Jose Mercury News? The Contra Costa Times? People are expected to pay for regional news and random commentary? To wit: The latest story on the Times right now is an analysis of Dancing with the Stars and the most-read story today involves a motorcycle crash that occurred this morning. Fine stories, sure, but how much would you pay to read them on a website?

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