Dow Jones paper begins charging for online content

The Stockton Record, a California paper owned by Dow Jones & Co., announced Monday that it will begin charging for access to its online news content.

The move is considered a precursor to other Dow Jones properties, particularly the rest of its business news operations, to do the same. The Wall Street Journal charges for some, but not all, of its online content, as does Barron’s. But Markewatch.com‘s content is free, as is Dow Jones Newswire content through Google search functions.

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, who owns Dow Jones, has made public statements this past year that media content companies need to begin charging for their online access if they are to survive.

Beginning Jan. 12, 2010, Recordnet.com will offer an on-demand, all-access subscription. This new subscription combines the print edition and additional online news and information.

“Recordnet.com has established its value with readers and advertisers in the communities it serves,” said Roger Coover, president of San Joaquin Media Group and publisher of The Record, in a statement. “This shift asks readers to recognize that value irrespective of whether they read the newspaper in print or online.”

The all-access subscription introductory rate is $2.67 per week. Print subscribers will be offered discounted rates to add the all-access pass for digital content to their subscription: The all-access subscription will cost only 77 cents per week more than the print subscription. Subscriptions will also be available for online- or print-only access.

“You can rely on our professional journalists, who put together the news and information our community needs,” Coover said. “With Recordnet.com, that news isn’t just online. It is fair, balanced and representative of the community it comes from. That’s not something you can get just anywhere on the Web.”

With the premium all-access subscription, subscribers will have unlimited access to all digital content via laptop, desktop, smart phone, simple text alerts and e-mail, in addition to the daily newspaper.

This subscription will give the reader full content no matter how frequently they sign on. Without one of these subscriptions, the number of times San Joaquin Media Group content can be accessed will be limited.