Report: Tribune to start ‘creative’ online pay

The Chicago Tribune is looking at plans to charge online readers for premium content, which it might roll out as early as July, according to a report by Crain’s Chicago Business.

The Tribune reportedly is looking at charging online readers premiums for different kinds of content, similar to the fee it charges for its literary magazine Printers Row, which was introduced earlier this year.

While it aims to start charging for content this summer, details are still not finalized, according to the Crain’s report.

In February, Tribune Editor Gerould Kern mentioned during a speech before the Niagara Foundation in Chicago that the paper was planning to charge for online content in a “creative” way. He did not go into detail then and would not comment to Crain’s on Tuesday.

The Tribune would join other major Chicago-area media in charging for online content. The Daily Herald inaugurated Subscriber Total Access in August 2011, which allows members access to content on a variety of print and digital platforms. Subscribers also receive ongoing access to special events and daily email news alerts and updates. Nonsubscribers continue to be able to view up to 15 pages every 30 days online.

The Chicago Sun-Times, along with its chain of suburban newspapers, the Beacon-News (Aurora), The Courier-News (Elgin), The Herald-News (Joliet), Lake County News-Sun (Gurnee), Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.) and the SouthtownStar (Chicago Heights), started a similar metered program in December.

Crain’s Chicago Business announced it will change to a metered program in June.

The New York Times, the Dallas Morning News and The Boston Globe are among a growing number of media companies nationwide charging for digital as well as print content.