Northern Ireland's Irish News, is one of the few UK newspapers to see an increase in its paid subscription circulation, and the only UK regional to do so in the second half of 2008. Meanwhile, the paper also charges for its online content, Press Gazette reported Monday.

The newspaper's circulation went up by 0.1 percent to 47,819.

Editor Noel Doran told the Independent on Sunday that a £65 pound annual subscription must be charged because online ad revenue is non-existent in Northern Ireland, Press Gazette reported.

The newspaper became a tabloid in 2005, and is owned by the Fitzpatrick family.