MU students no longer need to go to a newspaper stand for access to the New York Times. Now, they only need a laptop.
By going to [nytimes.com/passes](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/verification/edupass), students can register to receive online access with their MU email. Once registered, students can login to the website for complete online access up to 24 hours.
The New York Times allows anyone to view up to 10 articles for free until they must pay. Those who receive daily papers, however, get free online access as well.
Because MU receives hardcopies of the publication, it is also allowed a certain number of online access passes.
The number of students who can access the website is based on the number of physical copies taken daily.
At one time, 413 students can have 24-hour access to the New York Times’ website. Spots open throughout a day as students’ 24-hours access has concluded.
The online access is an extension of MU’s readership program, operated by the Missouri Students Association’s Department of Student Communications.
MU’s Readership Program, run through the Gannett Company, is the largest in the Southeastern Conference and the sixth largest in the United States, Director of Student Communications Jimmy Hibsch said.
With the amount of the articles and historical information available on the Times’ website, the increased readership program is a beneficial resource for students, Hibsch said.
“As education continues to involve, it’s a really cool way to keep up-to-date on your information,” Hibsch said.
Expanding MU’s Readership Program to include online access began last fall, said Zach Toombs, former MSA director of student communications.
Hibsch continued Toombs’ work when he took the position by sending out a survey to gage students’ desire for online access. Of the 100 students surveyed, more than 70 percent wanted access to the New York Times and more than 50 percent wanted access to the Missourian.
Hibsch said the number was significant enough to invest money in online access, but it ended up being free.
Hibsch also said MSA is still discussing online access to the Missourian, which takes more time because the publication does not yet have a readership program established like the Times.
