'Boston Globe' Editor Doubts Charging for Web Would Be Worthwhile

By: Joe Strupp Editor Martin Baron of The Boston Globe told a group of business leaders Thursday that he did not believe charging for Web content would bring in more revenue than keeping such information free.

Speaking at a Boston luncheon organized by Regan Communications, Baron said: ?I don?t believe anybody has demonstrated that you can earn more money for charging for it than not charging for it,? according to the MetroWest Daily News of Framingham.

The comments come as a new debate has emerged in the industry about charging for online content. The Globe, meanwhile, is in serious negotiations with its unions to cut costs and has threatened to sell or close the paper if enough reductions are not made.

The Globe is expected to lose $85 million this year without significant cost reductions, the Daily News reminded readers.

Baron said charging for online content would lead to a "precipitous drop in site traffic, which would in turn limit what advertisers could be charged and would eventually mean that the Web site would generate less revenue," the story said.

Baron said he might consider a ?hybrid model? that charges for access to certain parts of the paper?s Web site, although he didn?t offer any specifics.

"Baron said it would also be counterproductive to turn the Globe into an operation that only publishes online, partly because of the extra competition the paper faces on the Web," the story noted. "He said online revenues can only support a skeletal news staff, such as the 20-person newsroom that remains at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer after that paper stopped publishing a print edition last month."

Baron added that there were only a few examples of mainstream media outlets that have been able to turn a profit from Web operations: ?New media doesn?t pay the bills. The problem is, old media doesn?t pay the bills, either.?

But the story said Baron was optimistic about the Times Co.?s negotiations with his paper?s unions, although he offered no details about progress. The Boston Newspaper Guild has scheduled a rally for today in Boston.

?If anybody wanted to close the Globe, they could have done it by now,? Baron said. ?The objective is to keep the Globe open, operating and successful for the long-term.?