Media company News Corp has welcomed Google's decision to end its "first click free" policy, saying the move will be positive for traditional media.
The search engine giant on Monday said it would end a decade-old policy that requires publishers to provide some free stories to Google users.
Publishers have been required to provide at least three free stories a day under Google's "first click free" policy, but can now choose how many free articles they want to offer readers via Google before charging a fee.
News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson says the move is an important first step in recognising the value of legitimate journalism.
"If the change is properly introduced, the impact will be profoundly positive for journalists everywhere and for the cause of informed societies," Mr. Thomson said.
"Fake news has prospered on digital platforms which have commodified content and thus enabled bad actors to game the system for commercial or political gain."
News Corp said it had been involved in serious direct negotiations with Google about the future of content and about their relationship.
Traditional media outlets such as newspapers have suffered from shrinking advertising revenue as Facebook and Google corner the digital ad revenue market.
The media outlets have long complained they are not getting adequate returns on the large sums they invest for news production.
News Corp reported a group-wide loss of $US643 million ($A821 million) for 2016/17, lower ad revenue and decline in circulation and subscription revenue in its core News and Information Services division pushed segment revenue down five per cent.
