Subscriptions, encouragement appreciated
To everyone who's taken the time to speak with us and to everyone who's subscribed: Thank You.
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After sending our newspaper to press last week, we anxiously awaited community response to the news of the shift in our business model. Though continuing to be a free newspaper was no longer an option for us, we understood that moving from free to paid isn’t an especially popular idea.
We spoke with hundreds of community members at the annual Women for Wellness event the day after our news broke. We were prepared to encounter resistance. What we experienced was quite the opposite. You told us you understood and you’d support local journalism by subscribing.
These were some of your comments:
— “It’s about time. I don’t know how you were able to do it this many years for free.”
— “I just have one thing to say … It’s about (darn) time.”
— “You have to grow. I’m surprised you were able to stay free as long as you have.”
— “We’ll subscribe. You hooked us years ago.”
— “I hope you get a bunch of subscribers. I’ll be one of them!”
— “I’ll be sending in a check, and thank you for this publication.”
— “I’ll pay for it. After all the work you’ve put in these 14 years, you bet.”
Though initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, there are folks who’ve told us they don’t like that we’ll be charging. And that’s ok. We understand that change can be hard and that not everyone would find our news agreeable. This makes the vast show of support all the sweeter. Several of you contacted us within hours of the news with subscription in hand and something positive to say.
To everyone who’s taken the time to speak with us and to everyone who’s subscribed: Thank You. Your encouragement and understanding mean so much. We look forward to a bright future together as we prepare to transition to a paid newspaper on July 3.
