Most news outlets rely heavily on advertising, but not all readers are willing to play ball.
Wired has announced it will soon block access to articles for users running ad-blockers.
The technology publication announced the move in response to what it calls a “significant increase” in the number of readers using ad-blocking software.
The changes to the website will roll out “in the coming weeks”, and will affect readers globally.
“We know that there are many reasons for running an ad blocker, from simply wanting a faster, cleaner browsing experience to concerns about security and tracking software,” says Wired in a post on the matter.
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Wired claims that upwards of 20% of traffic to its website comes from a reader running an ad-blocker.
As a result, Wired is offering a new ad-free version of the website for a $1 per week fee.
Alternatively, you can simply whitelist Wired through your ad-blocker, with a promise from the company that ads will remain as “polite” as possible.
Wired adds: “…it’s important to be clear that advertising is how we keep Wired going: paying the writers, editors, designers, engineers, and all the other staff…”
It’s not clear whether other brands owned by Wired publisher Condé Nast will adopt a similar strategy. We’ve asked for comment, and will update this article with any response.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.