Swimming World Moves Toward Metered Paywall

Access to our content will originate from SwimmingWorld.com. We will no longer be able to provide unlimited free access to our online content without financial support from the swimming community.

We are firmly committed to remaining an independent, magazine-based, multimedia company for aquatic sports.

Being independent allows us to provide truthful and unbiased reporting of news and events. This has been a point of pride for Swimming World since its inception nearly 60 years ago. It takes real dollars to provide the service that our loyal readers expect.

Our only revenue support has been through magazine subscriptions, advertising support and sales from our swim shop. However, those revenues are not enough for us to compete in the emerging world of publishing.

Beginning in Q2 of 2012, users who come to SwimmingWorld.com will be allowed a limited amount of free access to our content. At some point, they will be prompted to support our efforts with a minimum monthly subscription fee that will include access to Swimming World Magazine. We anticipate that the cost to support Swimming World will be less than the cost of a hamburger or a Vente' latte coffee from Starbucks.

We have already started the process with the launching of our SwimmingWorld App found in the Apple Store and Android Market for $3.95. Download the app to get our "Morning Swim Show" and "Streamlined News" delivered to your mobile device.

Yes, we expect that there will be those who believe that the Internet should be free and will not support us. And we know that our Internet competitors will market against us. However, we believe that a majority of our users appreciate the important role we play in the swimming community and will be willing to support our vision.

Swimming World's employees are dedicated to bringing you the news via print, web and Internet TV. We also have several freelance reporters and contributors who work around the clock running down important stories every day. We travel to major events at our own expense and support clubs with streaming services—all with the intent to promote the sport we so dearly love.

Our infrastructure took years to build and is recognized worldwide as the record for the sport. But "record" is no longer defined as simply a listing of times. It means having previews, athlete and coach profiles, technique and analysis. It means taking on tough issues and investigative reporting. It means publishing that content in print and digitally to all media platforms. All of this requires real dollars and real support from our passionate users.

Being the publisher and CEO of Swimming World is more of a responsibility to the sport through the ages than a simple business model. I can count on two hands the number of independent publishers who have come and gone in our sport, and I am proud that Swimming World has been able to survive and evolve with the times.