<a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/finance/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/*http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=nyt">News</a>) is facing a reality most news organizations will soon face: Relying on ads is a tough way to run an online news outlet. The <i>Times</i> will begin a "paywall" over the coming weeks, charging readers a monthly fee after a certain number of articles are viewed.
                <p>This is entirely justified. Businesses need cash. Ads don't always provide enough. So you charge. <b>News Corp.</b>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/finance/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/*http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=nws&amp;d=t">NWS</a> - <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/finance/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/*http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=nws">News</a>) <i>Wall Street Journal</i> does it. The <i>Financial Times</i> does it. It's about time NYT joined the club.</p>
                <p>As part of NYT's paywall rollout, <b>Ford</b>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/finance/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/*http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=f&amp;d=t">F</a> - <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/finance/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/*http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=f">News</a>) Lincoln is sponsoring about 200,000 of NYT's "heaviest online readers," offering a free subscription for the remainder of 2011, worth about $150.</p>
                <p>This morning I was lucky enough to find myself as one of those readers. Great! Thanks Lincoln!</p>
                <p>But here's the thing. I would have happily paid for a subscription. The <i>Times</i> should have known this, as I'm already a heavy online reader by their own description. This promotion selects readers who are, by definition, loyal, avid, dedicated readers. Not only are we customers who will pay for a subscription, but we'd probably pay more than the going rate if necessary.</p>
                <p>I know it's Lincoln footing the bill, not the <i>Times</i>, but this seems backward. You'd think NYT would charge people like me a premium price, and try to win over more marginal readers with free memberships. If targeting is the key, you can still bombard me with Lincoln ads as you please. I'm going to show up no matter what. Be smart: Spend your advertising dollars luring someone who isn't as loyal.</p>
                <p>Got a different take? Share it below.</p>
                <p><i>Fool contributor <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/SIG=12buhub3p/*http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/18/index.htm?source=isaedilnk3550325">Motley Fool Stock Advisor</a><i> pick. The Fool owns shares of Ford Motor. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/SIG=127rdj1al/*http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.htm?source=isiedilnk018048">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/SIG=10tka4hr6/*http://wiki.fool.com/Motley">considering a diverse range of insights</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/fool/bs_fool/storytext/rx117360/40783221/SIG=11kl15n1u/*http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02">disclosure policy</a>.</i></i></p>
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