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‘Financial Times’ Changes Model, Offers Articles for Free

Come mid-October, the Financial Times’s website will offer 30 stories a month for free, in the hopes of boosting traffic and making it easier for bloggers to link through to the site. Currently, the site places restrictions on access to business stories and premium content.

While there will be no charge for the first 30 stories, users will be asked to register after five articles, writes Net Imperative.

The new model will be followed by changes to the site that will include a new markets section, new editorial features and columns, and an expansion of the paper’s video journalism. The site will also get an upgraded design and improved performance.

After 30 articles have been accessed, readers can opt for unlimited access by subscribing for either a standard subscription ($109) or a premium subscription ($299). Premium subscribers get access to a new FT Mobile News Reader application which provides optimized mobile phone access to FT content.

The New York Times recently changed its model, offering all of its content for free rather than charging for columnists and archives. The Wall Street Journal is said to be considering offering its website as a freebie, as well.