Since raising its paywall in June, News International titles The Times and Sunday Times have seen the percentage of their UK users increase significantly. The percentage of people accessing the news site from within the United Kingdom has more than doubled, from less than 35 percent in February to 75 percent today, according to a report by MediaWeek.co.uk.

The paywall around the Times websites has also resulted in a more "affluent and more engaged digital audience," according to chief marketing officer Katie Vanneck, the report stated. Also, the frequency with which users are accessing News International's online content has risen, from an average of twice weekly, to an average of three times each week.

When comparing the sites to their competitors, UK audiences made up 36 percent of MailOnline's 46.9 million unique users in September, 34 percent for the Telegraph.co.uk, 42 percent for Guardian.co.uk and 43 percent for Independent.co.uk.

Vanneck said The Times and Sunday Times had more than 105,000 paid-for customers since June. By doing some basic math, even if we estimate that number today at 110,000 (with 75 percent being from within the UK), then 82,500 of those users are UK-based. Compare that to the MailOnline's 36 percent of 46.9 million uniques - reaching 16.884 million UK users. However, the number of returning users is likely much lower.

The Wall Street Journal is planning to expand its targeted Professional Edition for chief financial officers (CFOs) and other senior financial executives with a customised version, FinChannel.com reported today. This initiative is scheduled to launch in spring 2011.

"Utilizing the Journal as a window for specialized content, the new product will provide CFOs with a comprehensive, targeted news feed and archive with real-time coverage focused on accounting, tax, regulatory matters, financial markets, strategy, operations and management, along with customizable tools, features and newsletters - all built to serve the specific needs of CFOs," according to a press release posted on DowJones.

"We are continually looking for ways to serve readers and users with the most relevant content in an innovative and timely manner," Daniel Bernard, chief product officer of the WSJ Digital Network, was quoted as saying by FinChannel.com. "The expansion of The Wall Street Journal Professional Edition - with its unmatched breadth and depth of content from thousands of sources - will provide the CFO community a comprehensive, customizable product to stay in the know on topics and news that matter most."

The Guardian Media Group is planning to separate its newspapers, The Guardian and The Observer, and their websites from the rest of the group's multi-media assets, according to a report drawn by MediaGuardian from the Sunday Times print edition.

The move will be led by CEO Andrew Miller, who joined GMG in July, and it is expected to "draw a line under ambitions to be a multi-media group" by treating assets outside the Guardian News and Media national press division as "arms-length investments", according to a report by PressGazette.co.uk. This means that the group's management and operational focus will be on Guardian News Media.

The company's multi-media assets include its holdings in Trader Media Group and the b2b magazine publisher Emap, both jointly owned with private equity firm, Apax, radio stations and property websites.

Also likely consideration of sale or stock market listing of the lucrative Trader division and its principal brand, Auto Trader magazine, estimated at a value of £1.5bn "is likely to fuel speculation over the financial future of Guardian Media Group," according to nma.co.uk. The media group also recently announced the switch in payment model of its iPhone app from a one-off charge to a subscription model.

China-based tech firm Hanvon is expected to announce today the first e-reader with color e-ink at this year's FDP International trade show in Tokyo, Japan, PC Mag reported.

The device will emerge on the Chinese market in March next year and may cost US$440, according to CNN. The e-reader will have a 9.68 inch touchscreen as well as 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Image: NYT

"Consumers want everything: vibrant color and full video with low power consumption and zero glare at an unbeatable price. Until that arrives, we'll continue to see both makers and readers in this space accepting tradeoffs and experimenting to find a balance that works," Wired.com stated.

According to The New York Times, e-ink's black-and-white displays are present on almost 90 percent of e-readers across the globe, i.e. Amazon's Kindle or Sony's Reader Daily Edition. Apple's iPad and Barnes & Noble's recently unveiled colour Nook reader both use LCD technology.