In Newport: New Media v. Old

The Newport Daily News got a good bit of attention this summer when it began charging for access to its web site in a bid to drive readers back to its more profitable print edition.

It was an intriguing experiment. An admirable bid to keep an important institution alive. And so far, it's showed some signs of success. But in the last couple of months, a new media challenger has emerged - Newport Now, a web site offering free news on the city by the sea.

Should be an interesting duel. Look for a fuller accounting of the battle of Newport in this week's Phoenix.