What it costs to read Chicago news in 2026

"The latest: The Washington Post is laying off hundreds of journalists in an effort to "restructure" the newsroom and cut costs. In 2024, the company began prioritizing subscriptions over digital advertising, raising the yearly fee to access content. The big picture: While major media companies and news organizations tinker with delivery methods, tiered subscriptions and bundles that include non-news packages, including crossword puzzles and games, local news is still operating standard paywalls, relying on subscription-based revenue instead of digital advertising."

"By the numbers: In 2015, it cost about $8 a month to read the Chicago Tribune online. In 2026, that price has climbed to $20, far outpacing inflation as publishers push more costs onto readers. If a consumer subscribed to the major daily news organizations in Chicago, it would cost around $200 a month, though that total drops with discounted annual subscriptions."

"The other side: Critics have argued that paywalls create a two-tier society, where those with means are informed and those without are not. Last week, actor John Cusack penned an editorial in the Sun-Times asking newspapers not to put essential news behind paywalls, especially immigration enforcement coverage. The bottom line: As news organizations charge more to survive, access to local information is increasingly becoming a luxury rather than a public good."

Major newsrooms are cutting staff while shifting revenue strategies toward subscriptions rather than digital advertising. Some publishers raised annual access fees and introduced tiered subscriptions and bundles that include non-news offerings like puzzles and games, while many local outlets maintain standard paywalls reliant on subscription revenue. A 2024 study reported at least 75% of U.S. news outlets are behind a paywall. The nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times requires non-subscribers to watch video ads before reading. Between 2015 and 2026, Chicago Tribune monthly digital prices rose from about $8 to $20, and combined subscriptions to major Chicago dailies approach $200 monthly. Critics warn paywalls create unequal access to essential local information.

Read at Axios