• by Melynda Fuller , September 5, 2019

The Atlantic instated a new metered model on its website today with a three-tiered subscription plan for readers.

Readers can view five articles per month before being prompted to select an annual subscription plan.

Plans include digital, digital plus print and premium bundles. A subscription grants unlimited access to The Atlantic’s journalism in addition to a weekly newsletter and other benefits.

Subscription plans run $49.99 for digital, $59.99 for print and digital and $100 for a premium subscription that includes ad-free web browsing and podcasts, a free digital gift subscription, discounts on Atlantic products and priority access to events. 

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, wrote in a letter to readers: “To ensure The Atlantic has a bright future, we are today introducing a new digital-subscription service. The Atlantic turns 162 in November. My dream is that the steps we take in this period—a difficult one for our industry, as you no doubt know—will guarantee that our magazine will celebrate its bicentennial as a flourishing and indispensable creator of the world’s best journalism.”

Goldberg notes in his letter that The Atlantic counts more than 30 million audience across its website, print magazine, podcasts, live events and documentary views.

He also hinted at a refreshed look for the brand in addition to new digital experiences and storytelling platforms in the coming months.

In his letter to staff, Michael Finnegan, president of Atlantic Media, wrote: “The Atlantic has been fortunate to find audiences—and partners who want to reach those audiences—throughout our history. We now need to find many, many more readers who want to regularly engage with and ultimately pay for our journalism.”