MediaNews OKs micropayment model for 54 dailies

Denver-based MediaNews Group, owner of 54 daily newspapers in the U.S., plans to charge readers for access to some content on its Web sites. At present, all content on newspaper Web sites owned by the chain is free, but the company says that practice cannot continue. The chain includes such metro dailies as the Denver Post and the Salt Lake Tribune.

This development follows news last week that The Wall Street Journal is going to a micropayment system and news this week that The New York Times will start charging Web readers for access to premium content. The Wall Street Journal is leading the way toward the industry adopting a new business model with its recent success in charging online readers.

As more newspapers announce ideas for generating revenue from readers, what about the more lucrative source of revenue -- advertising? While micropayments will generate some additional revenue, the real money to be made is in advertising. So, as micropayment news keeps coming, one can't help but wonder what newspaper chains will do about advertising?

Could McClatchy become the next newspaper chain to come out with a micropayment plan -- where readers are charged for access to individual stories? One McClatchy daily -- the Lexington Herald-Leader -- has endured three rounds of layoffs in the last year and reduced some employees' salaries. The Lexington Herald-Leader named Peter Baniak, 37, its new editor Tuesday.