Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Begins Charging for Some Online Content

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, the Cedar Valley's largest newspaper, announced this week it is charging for much of its local online content, effective Wednesday.

An article by Courier editor Nancy Newhoff explained the new system. Readers will be charged for local news stories after the first 10 with some exceptions. Exceptions include important topics like the missing girls from Evansdale.

Other free content will include front pages, regional, national and world Associated Press stories, photo galleries, live chats and interactive features, weather, all advertisements, classified ads and special sections like Pulse, Cedar Valley Home & Garden, BTrue and Weddings magazines.

Readers who wish to access more than 10 articles will be asked to pay a fee. Print subscribers will pay $1.95 a month and online-only readers will pay $6.95. Annual online subscription rates are $19.95 for print subscribers and $59.95 for online-only users.

Several other newspapers in Iowa have gone to an online pay model, including the and the on June 1. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald and the Ames Tribune also have an online pay model. Years ago, the Gazette charged for online content but reverted back to full access.