The Newport Daily News is experimenting with a previously untested approach to charging for online content - the cost of an Internet only subscription will be more than the subscription to the newspaper's print version, the Nieman Journalism Lab reported Monday.

The newspaper plans to plug the paper-and-ink format by making it more financially attractive than the online equivalent, while bringing in cash from those who are forced to use the online version. The Rhodes Island 12,000-strong circulation paper is published in a traditional afternoon edition on weekdays and a morning edition on Saturdays.

"Our goal was to get people back into the printed product," publisher Albert K. Sherman, Jr. told Niemen's Edward J. Delaney in an interview. "Why would they pay for it on the Internet when they can go buy the printed paper? And that's perfect - that's what we want."

The new "three-tier pricing structure" charges subscribers US$145 a year for home delivery of the print version, $245 for home print delivery and online access, and a steep $345 for the online access to the duplicate of the print edition only. However, some information, such as obituaries and wedding announcements, will remain free.

Initial popularity of the newspaper's Web site was to the tune of 1,500 visitors a day. This declined to 500 after free registration was put in place in order to gain access on June 1. The effect of the significant subscription price appears obvious, but Sherman said he sees those interested in Newport area news who are outside the circulation area as potential online purchasers, Niemen reported.

The new subscription system has some inherent opportunities at success: competition is limited, and although the nearby Providence Journal is much larger, the Newport Daily News provides the only specific localised coverage of the area. Further, Newport readers were never tempted by full and complete access to free online content as only limited portions of the newspaper's articles were published on its Web site, the Niemen article points out. Meanwhile, online advertising has never been a top income earner, while print ads are much more successful.

Sherman, whose family has owned the Rhode Island newspaper since 1918, said the News was tired of waiting for someone else to solve the industry problems.

"We've wanted for years for someone to come out with the new model," he said.