WebProNews

According to Reuters, a Dow Jones & Co. Inc. executive predicted that more U.S. publishers likely will try to wean readers off free Internet versions of their newspapers by starting to charge online subscription fees.

If this happens, then you can be sure that more consumers will gravitate down the Long Tail of Content to blogs for free, unfiltered content. Newspapers who go down this arrogant path may not be able to return to prominence online ever again. New media brands will emerge in their wake as leaders.

Just look at how MarketingVOX and AdRants are already eroding the walled gardens of AdAge.com and AdWeek.com

Reference: Dow Jones Executive Foresees More Paid Web Sites

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.