Paying to read newspapers

[tan fish]

Does anyone here subscribe to either the NY Times, WSJ, or Financial Times online editions? I'm currently exploring whether or not I should subscribe to any of these newspapers' online editions. I'm definitely a news junkie on a personal level, but I also have a job where keeping informed of current events is an expectation.

I'm most familiar with the NYT content and regularly read it until I hit the monthly pay wall limit, but $3.75 a week is a bit steep to me. I'm less familiar with the content of the WSJ and FT because much of it is behind their pay walls. Between the WSJ and FT, the WSJ is definitely cheaper too ($2 a week as opposed to the $5 that the FT charges).

I'm just interested in hearing any thoughts on any of these publications from subscribers, and how you like the experience and whether or not you think its "worth it" to ante up a small amount to read those titles regularly.

[kork13]

I don't subscribe to the WSJ, but I personally find I don't need to. A large majority of their general news articles are free access. Most of the articles that require a subscription are business articles and some various other random content, so I'm okay with missing out on the few articles of interest there in favor of having one less monthly expense to mess with.

On a more personal preference level, I like the WSJ significantly more than just about any other daily news service out there (in the US--BBC is mostly pretty good about it as well), because the WSJ tends to be FAR FAR FAR more neutral in their reporting than CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews, NY Times, Wash. Post, or any other you might name. They do occasionally have a spin one way or the other, but it's never so blatantly biased as others, and when it is, they frequently present an opposing article as well. However, biased news reporting is a pet peeve of mine, so that's just a notable issue for me. YMMV

[ambitions2o]

I actually had purchased a subscription for the WSJ that I mainly use on my iPad, but do read on the computer when I am at work. I really do like the subscription and it is handy for me because I read the paper on the train with no internet connection. It seems to have all of the sections (which was my biggest concern).

@Kork13: Have you ever checked out Seeking Alpha? They run a daily morning digest that I receive in my inbox each morning - almost similar to WSJ's Morning News.

[PatientSaver]

I thought the NYT online went to a paid subscription, but for what it's worth, i'm still able to log in and read it for free. Am i missing something?

[Frugal]

I have a six-month free subscription to the paper version of Wall Street Journal that I received for FREE by entering surveys for about four months. There are some sites that let you do this. Personally, I do look online for news, but like to have a hard copy in my hand to read in the morning.

If you want WSJ online, I do know that most college libraries pay a large fee for their databases and possibly for regular online access. It can cost a bundle, and not so sure if the online access for WSJ is worth it. The paper subscription (e.g., print edition) is also somewhat expensive if you buy it for six months to a year at a time.

Hope that helps!

[Like2Plan]

I love the WSJ. I love reading the stories in the WSJ and I credit the WSJ with articles in fall 2007 about the mortgage/banking crisis which lead me to take action and diversify our portfolio a bit more (it didn't do much good as there weren't many good places to hide. )

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't subscribe, either online or in paper. However, I'd subscribe to both the WSJ and NYT if I come to have no other choice. Those are first preferences for much news, analysis, and editorial.