GNM debates paid content on paidContent sites

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Guardian News & Media is considering paid-for access to its paidContent websites. GNM, which bought paidContent's parent company ContentNext in 2008 , is surveying readers to ascertain what price they might may for a subscription to its websites, which include digital media news sites paidContent.org, paidContent:UK and MocoNews.

"ContentNext media (parent of paidContent.org) is considering moving over to a new Premium Subscription Service for their publications. As you currently use paidContent.co.uk, we would like to understand your opinions on our new service," the survey said.

But Caroline Little, CEO of Guardian America and responsible for the day-to-day operations of ContentNext, told Journalism.co.uk that there were "no specific plans" for introducing subscriptions: "We are just exploring the possibility (...) The first thing we wanted to do was to hear from our readers, hence the survey."

"We aren't going paid (…) we are considering if we should look at it and may not go down that path. Who knows?" added publisher and editor Rafat Ali in a Twitter update yesterday .

Respondents to the survey are given the following options to choose from: unlimited access to new and archived articles for £249 per year; unlimited access to articles for 10 users at £939 a year; or access to articles up to a week old for free.

The survey also asked readers for their views on paid-for mobile applications. Last week GNM announced that its Guardian iPhone application, which costs £2.39, had been downloaded almost 70,000 times .

Despite launching a paid for iPhone application and plans for a members club, senior GNM representatives have dismissed introducing pay walls to the Guardian site.

"It would be crazy if we were to all jump behind a pay wall and imagine that would solve things,” editor Alan Rusbridger told an industry event in Coventry last week .