Two years ago, when the New York Times instituted their paywall, I wrote about several ways to get around paywalls. I know it sounds a bit unscrupulous, but if you aren’t a devoted reader of any one website you probably don’t want to pay for a subscription. Even if you browse a lot of different sources, you’re likely to encounter a paywall at some point.
There are ways around most paywalls if you are just dying to read that one special article. Among those widely reported:
1. Go into your browser’s cookies and delete all the cookies for that website; also clear your browser’s cache.
2. Copy the article’s title and do a search for it on Google. Click on the Google link back to the story.
3. Switch to a different browser where you haven’t yet hit your monthly limit for that website.
However, last night I stumbled onto a new one, and a handy website to boot:
Copy the article’s URL and paste it into the box at Readability.com.* Click “Shorten & Read” and then, below it, “Read Now.” You’ll see the full story, imported in a handsome, highly readable format, free of all the surrounding content (including comments, unfortunately). If you want to read the story on its original site, there’s a link (“original”) at the top of the story.
If all else fails, try browsing in incognito mode.
___________
Note — Nov. 27, 2016: The Readability.com service shut down several months ago.
Sneaky, but useful.
Thought I’d pass along the information, just in case. Don’t know how Readability escaped my notice until now.
Good sleuthing, PT! Have run head-first into those walls a few times and abandoned the article, but now am eager to try out your aids. I can understand and support payment for services rendered, but not for simply wanting to read one isolated news story or article. Thanks for the intel– 🙂
I feel the same way. A single story, once in a while, is not worth paying for.
Pretty much mirror Karen’s response on this one although if it is an article regarding national interest I can usually chase it down in some other newspaper similar to what you suggested in #2 on your post. In most of my cases I am just trying to secure a ‘link’ for reference but I want to know that I can go back to it at a later date and/or share it and that it will still connect to my subject matter!
Paywalls don’t apply to incoming links. That’s why the Google thing usually works. If you include a link in one of your posts, readers who use that link to get to the story will not face a paywall.
Dang girl, you are full of handy dandy little tips. I had no idea you could do something like this.Thanks.
You’re welcome. Glad I could help.