The Times/The Sunday Times

Rupert Murdoch's paywall is almost here. The new sites of The Times and The Sunday Times have gone live for a month-long trial period before the work of News International's journalists creeps out of reach of Google's search engines. However, if you pay £1 a day or £2 a week the writing of Caitlin Moran, India Knight, Victoria Coren, A.A. Gill et many a well known well will be returned to your screen.  

THE TIMES

The new site looks more like a newspaper, with the lead story clearly picked out. The whole thing is much cleaner and simpler than Times Online, which, like many an online newspaper, could look a bit too busy. There is a far greater emphasis on audio-visual content, advertising is less obtrusive and the images accompanying the articles occupy more space than before. 

THE SUNDAY TIMES

This is the first time that The Sunday Times has had a stand-alone website. It feels more like a lifestyle magazine than a newspaper, but then so does the print edition. Like The Times, the content is clean and easy to find your way around. The emphasis is very much on multi-media content and big visuals. If you want to see half your screen filled with an air-brushed Jeremy Clarkson, pay the piper and you'll get that particular tune. 

THE END OF ANONYMITY

Those of you who like to huff about the ease with which commenters can hide online might like the fact that subscribers will only be able to leave comments on articles under their real names. Given that users will be paying to access the websites, there is a chance of having a debate which doesn't involve the sort of wild abuse that bedevils many a news site.

27 May 2010