OUR VIEW: Why we charge a subscription to read our stories
Published 7:16 pm Tuesday, April 18, 2023
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More and more on our Facebook pages, we see comments where people are complaining because they have to pay to read one of our stories.
The truth is that at the end of the day the newspaper is a business, one meant to go out and find out what’s happening in our community. It costs money to do that.
Just like no one reading this would be willing to work for free, our staff also wants to be paid a fair wage. Like you, they have families to provide for. It takes a lot of time and effort to attend all of the commission meetings, city council meetings, school board meetings and to jump up at all hours of the day and night to cover breaking news.
We try to be at just about every athletic event in this county as well, from youth sports to middle school to high school and college.
Reporters don’t often have a set schedule. Many times, when it’s time to go home, a massive story breaks. Guess what?
They miss dinner that night. Or they eat a little later.
They spend hours trying to connect with sources to get you, the reader, the correct information.
People want news right when it happens. They also want all the facts right, which is always our expectation. Having breaking news right when it happens means always being available, always being ready for something to happen. In a county of 70,000 people, that takes a lot of resources.
So, yes, we charge a subscription to read our news stories. Putting this newspaper together is a huge part of our lives, and it’s something we take very seriously. From reporters to advertising staff, it’s a large undertaking and every day we start with a new blank canvas.
Newspapers have always charged subscriptions, including this one. The format might have changed three days a week — our e-edition days are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday — but for less than eating lunch at a restaurant you can purchase a monthly subscription to The LaGrange Daily News.
People are reading news more online than in print in 2023. The digital part of our business continues to be a focus and continues to grow.
We appreciate the readers who continue to follow our product across all facets — print media, our website, newsletter, LaGrange Living magazine and social media.
In 2023, we’re working very hard to bring you news where you are, and for most of you, that’s on the go. But our print products still remain the core of who we are.
We ask you to keep supporting your local newspaper, and yes, that means requiring a subscription to read our content.
We thank you for your support.