logo_lockupHow news publishers can turn audience reach into sustainable revenue

As subscription growth plateaus across many markets, news publishers are being forced to rethink how they build value from their audiences. Registration — converting anonymous readers into known, logged-in users — has emerged as one of the most powerful levers for sustainable growth.

Produced by FT Strategies and supported by the Google News Initiative, this report draws on insights from our latest Subscriptions Academy programme, bringing together learnings from 12 publishers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, alongside case studies from the Financial Times, El País, Blick and Bloomberg.

The report explores why registration is no longer a supporting tactic, but a strategic foundation for future reader revenue growth — and how publishers can design registration propositions that deepen engagement and shorten the path to subscription.

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In this report, you will discover:

  • Why registration has become a strategic priority as subscription growth slows

  • How converting anonymous users into known readers strengthens long-term revenue and resilience

  • The Financial Times’ approach to building a high-value registration strategy

  • Proven registration models from publishers across EMEA

  • The four most common challenges limiting registration growth — and how to overcome them

  • Practical, low-risk experiments publishers are using to drive measurable impact

We are grateful to the publishers who took part courtesy of our partnership with the Google News Initiative:
 
  • L'Orient-Le Jour
  • Ouest France
  • Henneo (heraldo.es)
  • Il Fatto Quotidiano
  • Majarra
  • Le Parisien
  • ABC (Vocento)
  • Irish Farmers Journal
  • Pagella Politica
  • News24 / Netwerk24 (Media24)
  • Project Syndicate
  • Courrier International
Registration is no longer just a step on the path to subscription — it’s a strategic lever for sustainable growth. Download the report to explore how leading publishers are using registration to deepen engagement, build direct relationships and unlock long-term reader revenue.
 
Download report