Times Community News online content to remain free

The Los Angeles Times’ announcement Friday that it would start charging for full access to its website will not affect the company’s community news division.

Starting March 5, people who do not subscribe to the Los Angeles Times print edition will be asked to buy an online subscription. Those who don’t will be able to read 15 stories in a 30-day period for free.

The move, however, will not affect websites produced by the Times Community News division of the company, including the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, La Cañada Valley Sun and Pasadena Sun, along with several others in Orange County.

“I applaud the Los Angeles Times’ bold move regarding their membership plan,” said Dan Evans, editor of the four Los Angeles-area community news titles. “For now, however, our websites will remain as they are.”

Commonly known as “paywalls,” The Times is calling its plan a “membership” that, in addition to unfettered access to digital news content, will include retail discounts, deals and giveaways.

The initial online subscription rate will be 99 cents for four weeks. Afterward, unlimited digital access will be $3.99 per week. Other packages will also be offered, including $1.99 per week for digital access and delivery of the Sunday print edition.

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FOR THE RECORD: This corrects typos in an earlier edition.

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