MediaNews Group, owner of the San Jose Mercury News, is increasing the number of papers in its national chain that will have paywalls on their websites.

MNG has been testing a paywall at its dailies in Chico and York, Pa., since last year.

On Monday, MNG announced it was adding a paywall to the websites of 23 more papers, including The Reporter in Vacaville and the Times-Herald in Vallejo.

Under the model, all readers of the selected publications will have access to the home page, classifieds, obituaries and announcements section. Readers also will receive five free pages of editorial content per month before being asked to subscribe.

Current print subscribers may extend their subscriptions to include full digital access for an additional $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year.

Digital-only subscriptions will be available to those who are not currently print subscribers for $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

“The decision to begin charging for our online content introduces a new era for our organization that is reflective of the high value we place on journalistic excellence and serving the community,” said MediaNews Group chairman Dean Singleton in a story in the MNG-owned Denver Post. “Implementation of online subscriptions will allow us to continue to support the quality writing and reporting that our readers expect from us.”

The MNG papers in California adding paywalls, in addition to the dailies in Vacaville and Vallejo, are the Daily Democrat (Woodland and Yolo County), Lake County Record-Bee, Red Bluff Daily News, Redlands Daily Facts, Times-Standard (Eureka), The Ukiah Daily Journal and Whittier Daily News.