Politico to add susbcription service, charging minimum $1,450 a year

By David Silverberg

Politico, a free news site focusing on Washington politics, will add a paid subscription service early next year, according to the New York Times. The news service will provide in-depth coverage of various hot topics such as health care, energy and technology. It will track what Congress, federal agencies, lobbyists and trade associations are doing on a given topic.

To access Politico Pro, subscribers will need to pay $1,495 to $2,500 a year for the first topic and $1,000 for each subsequent topic. Subscriptions for Congressional offices will begin at $1,495 and other users, such as lobbyists and government contractors, will pay at least $2,000. Politico.com, the main site providing 24/7 news, will remain free.

Later next year, Politico Pro plans  to cover the military industry, financial services and transportation. Politico plans to hire 50 more staffers to help run the operation.

Jim VandeHei, executive editor of Politico, said it relies on advertising in its print edition and Politico Pro will help keep the company afloat. “The idea is that we want to find multiple revenue streams so we can grow even bigger,” he told the Times.

Bloomberg is planning a similar project, which will combine political news coverage and government database info. Bloomberg Government Service will cost subscribers $5,700 annually.