WSJ to Shore Up Paywall

Publishers often want it both ways when it comes to subscriptions. They want the extra revenue source from paywalls, but they want the traffic that comes from social media and search referrals.

The Wall Street Journal is working to plug one nifty way around its subscription requirement. The News Corp. property is working with Google to pull an app made for the Google Chrome browser. The “Read WSJ” app gives people an easy way around WSJ’s paywall by taking advantage of the WSJ, allowing visitors arriving via Google News access to its articles. Through the app, users can click on a headline of a story behind the paywall where they are then redirected to a search on Google News for the exact headline. There thay can click on the headline and finally see the story. It all takes only a couple seconds.

That should end soon, according to WSJ rep Ashley Huston, who called the app a “blatant exploitation” of the Journal’s sampling program, which lets users get five articles per month free via Google. The app isn’t widely used, with Google showing less than 4,000 users.

The Journal might go farther, however. Huston said it is mulling cutting back on the number of free stories through Google News from its current five per day.

The WSJ isn’t alone. There are several ways around The New York Times digital subscription plan. One of the easiest ways is a browser application called “NYClean” that eradicates the subscribers-only message that pops up over articles. The Times tolerates the application for now.

https://digiday.com/?p=4372

More in Media

WTF is behind the explosion of faceless creators? 

Brands are rapidly increasing their spending on faceless creators, showing the unique benefits of working with this type of influencer.

In Graphic Detail: As ‘Grow a Garden’ booms, a new report shows the marketing power of Roblox

The explosive growth of “Grow a Garden” has brought new attention to Roblox — and rejuvenated marketers’ interest in its advertising power.

A hand rising from the bottom of the image holds a weight inscribed with the word 'brand,' symbolizing the effort of lifting and strengthening a brand, in line with influencer marketing’s role in brand lift and advocacy.

Brand deals surge for golf creators as the sport’s popularity spikes

Golf is booming, and so is influencer marketing. As a result, golf creators are signing an unprecedented number of brand deals in 2025.