Digital Home Thoughts: Introducing the PayWall of the New York Times

"Starting in early 2011, visitors to NYTimes.com will get a certain number of articles free every month before being asked to pay a flat fee for unlimited access. Subscribers to the newspaper’s print edition will receive full access to the site."

It had to happen eventually. Newspapers and magazines have tended to have a love-hate relationship with the Internet. On one hand, it opens up a huge market for distribution, but the problem is monetizing all those eyeballs, a persistent problem when it comes to content on the Internet. So The Times has chosen to go with the "freemium" model. Over the years, I've seen various methods tried, and I particularly remember Salon magazine trying to go with a "sponsored" model a few years back, where you would have to watch a few ads for a "day pass." I do not remember it working, though Salon is still around. I have doubts that the New York Times will successful as well with this model. I do not begrudge them wanting to make money and I do believe that traditional content still has a place in this world. Beyond twitters, blogs, vlogs and their kin, there is use for journalists and the articles they write. The problem is journalism, in the classic sense, can cost a lot of money. I only wish I knew of a solution. Any ideas?