Because we believe that, for some readers, the internet is an effective way to deliver information. For these readers, an online publication has genuine value. Newspapers have suspected this from the beginning and have almost uniformly been reluctant to embrace the medium. Most newspapers refrain from posting all their content online, for fear it would erode subscriptions to the regular edition. We decided to test the alternative view, which is that while the internet culture insists everything is free, there are a signficant number of people who see the internet as a tool that can deliver useful information.
Some readers see it as service worth paying for.
We don't want to claim we have all the right answers. Newspapers all across this country are looking for ways to use it effectively. Virtually none say they have found the right approach. If this turns out to be a mistake, we'll be the first to admit it. It certainly goes against conventional wisdom.