Study suggests paid for online news now gaining traction
A new study suggests that consumers are now more likely than ever before to consider tugging at their purse strings when it comes to obtaining paid-for news content online – although many still need further incentives to take the plunge.
The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that the percentage of UK web users who made use of premium content leapt to 9 per cent over the past 10 months, echoing similar gains in the US, France and Germany.
Of those willing to stump up cash for content men proved more willing than women with most falling in the 25 to 34 age bracket.
Ruminating on this rise the researchers speculate that the growing market penetration of tablets and smartphones were behind the rise, devices well-known for encouraging their owners to part with cash.
Lead researcher Prof Robert Picard said: "The data indicate, on average, 10% of people have paid for news in some digital form - about one-third higher than last year.
“"Public-affairs magazines are finding it easier to get the public to pay than newspapers, especially on tablets, because digital payments for magazines are becoming the norm and they offer news analysis and commentary in ways general news sources do not."
The findings will prove interesting reading for the likes of The Sun, Daily Telegraph and The Times – all of which have recently introduced paywalls.