AddThis SmartLayers

Daily says ‘real stories worth paying for’ as it launches paywall

A regional daily is set to launch a £2.50 per week paywall next month, arguing that “real stories are worth paying for”.

The Belfast Telegraph has announced it is setting up the new subscription fee from 19 May.

However the newspaper, which appointed Eoin Brannigan as its new editor last week, says some content will continue to be free on its website after the paywall launches.

Bel Tel owner Independent News and Media is the latest regional publisher to launch a new paywall since the coronavirus outbreak, after Newsquest added a metered paywall to the websites of all its regional daily newspapers last week.

Bel Tel paywall

Announcing the move, the Bel Tel said: “For 150 years Northern Ireland has trusted the Belfast Telegraph to tell it like it is. Without fear or favour, we are the trusted news, written for Northern Ireland, by people here in Northern Ireland.

“As we continue to tell it like it is, we look for your continued support. From 19 May please subscribe to Belfast Telegraph for just £2.50 per week.”

“We have listened to our readers who have told us what is important to them: quality, impartial, trustworthy reporting and journalism on what matters most to the people of Northern Ireland.

“This means we will continue to invest in great journalism, great journalists and writers for our titles. To maintain this quality, we will launch a subscription service on belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

“We hope that you, like we do, will consider this worth paying for.”