James Harding, the editor of the Times, has defended the group's plan to charge for their online content.

In an interview with Radio 4's Today programme, Harding claimed if paywalls are not erected around their online content, there was a danger that the internet could "wipe out" the title. He said there is a need to create a sustainable model for the future of online journalism.

Harding noted that making content available freely on the internet would undermine the value of their title as well as their journalistic value. He dismissed fears that charging for online content would reduce the impact of the Times brand of journalism. He said charging it would actually aid the paper in generating the resources needed to invest in reporting.

Harding however admitted that this was a "big step" due to which the paper's websites would lose the so-called "window shoppers" who represent 90 per cent of their online readers.