Accessing news online from The Journal Gazette will require a subscription starting today, as the newspaper launches what the media industry calls a metered paywall.

Those who already have a seven-day print subscription will still be able to read the newspaper's online content at www.journalgazette.net for free.

“I am proud to say that the JG is staffed with many talented, professional journalists,” Journal Gazette President and Publisher Julie Inskeep said. “We are the largest news-gathering organization in northeast Indiana. Our work is important and research shows that the work of newspapers promotes citizen engagement in government and reduces the costs taxpayers assume.

“We have always charged for our print product and we probably should've charged in 1996 when we began offering that content on the internet,” Inskeep said. “I think it is imperative we do so now.”

An online-only subscription to JournalGazette.net will cost $20 per month. Fort Wayne Newspapers, the business agent for The Journal Gazette, is offering subscribers a promotional price of $9.95 for the first month of unlimited online access to stories.

Those who opt not to subscribe will be able to see some web pages, such as the home page, weather and obituaries, each month for free.

Along with unlimited access to The Journal Gazette's website, subscribers will have full access to News-Sentinel.com, The Journal Gazette e-edition, all apps and all mobile sites. Access to FortWayne.com remains free.

The change is based on best practices in the newspaper industry and comes after collecting feedback from readers.

Scott Stanford, president and CEO of Fort Wayne Newspapers, said the news content has value, regardless of whether it is published in print or online.

“Print remains an important and vital component of our business, but just as many readers are likely to read The Journal Gazette on a phone, computer or iPad. And that online audience continues to grow,” Stanford said in a statement.

“The foundation of our business is delivering local news and advertising content to subscribers,” he said. “This offers subscribers more choices than ever in selecting the delivery method – print, online or a combination of both – that best meets their needs.”

lisagreen@jg.net