Wall Street Journal Confirms The Paywall’s Here To Stay

By Neal on January 24, 2008 12:45 PM

Wall Street Journal opts to keep content behind paywalls and increase online subscription prices…

Rupert Murdoch has confirmed that the Wall Street Journal is keeping its internet paywall. Not only that, but he added that the WSJ will be jacking up their online subscription prices. The news was leaked through a WSJ blog dedicated to Davos. Here’s what was on the record from a public Q&A session with Murdoch at Davos, as reported by Emily Steel of the WSJ:

“We are going to greatly expand and improve the free part of the Wall Street Journal online, but there will still be a strong offering [for subscribers] … The really special things will still be a subscription service, and, sorry to tell you, probably more expensive.”

But that’s not even the best part. Following the news, Wall Street Journal subscribers turned out in force in the Davos blog’s comment section to take swipes at Papa Rupe. Some of our favorites:

“it WILL be more expensive.. starting in march of so. $119 for a year as opposed to $99. don’t ask how I know this, shh! I work for dj customer service”

“I love this website, but I’m not sure how much I am willing to pay for it. HOw much more expensive is my question. For example, if it doubled I would cancel, order CNBC’s streaming service to watch their programs. I’d use Yahoo or Fidelity finance for my portfolio.

So I really hope they don’t make it too much higher.”

“tell mr murdoch that for 15 years the wsj always had the yearly trading summary for treasury bonds in the first issue of the year. this year they dont have it and everyone i email to ask about it does not respond. this is supposed to be an investment publication. cut some of the work balance crap and get back to investment issues.”

Screen cap included after the jump just in case the comments get deleted.