Online publications are moving towards profitability as more readers are willing to pay for news on the web.
Following declining printed publication sales, most media companies have migrated to the web to cater for the growing online audience.
Increasing e-sales for news agencies is one of the key topics at the annual World Newspaper Congress, underway in Bangkok, China until June 5.
Other topics of discussion include press freedom, journalist safety, the use of new technology and future trends in print and advertising.
Mobile content charging is a highly contested topic with paywalls as the suggested solution for monetising digital content.
Giles Demptos, member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, said: “The general impression was that it would be impossible to reverse the culture of free (online) content… that people will never pay for it.”
He added: “The great news is that it is changing dramatically.”
The New York Times (NYT) and the Financial Times were mentioned as leading examples of most-read publications.
The NYT became the United States’ most read daily paper in May with 325,000 online readers out of its one million-strong circulation.
It publication makes its news available for US$35 per month to subscribers through its website and mobile apps.
While paying readers are allowed unlimited access, casual readers can read up to ten articles per month for free.
Although sceptical about its current performance, Jeff Darvis, blogger at the City University of New York, believes the solution lies in Newspapers should prioritise “building a stronger relationship with the public,” the Agence France Presse reported.
The Asian market for digital publications is also reportedly growing with success in India, China and Thailand.
