When will I be required to have a subscription or make a payment in order to read a story?
After you have read 5 stories in a calendar month, or if you wish to access a story in our online print edition archives that is older than three months, you need to be a subscribing member.
Why are you doing this?
We ask the consumers of our content, our readers, to pay a small amount toward the high costs of our creating this content because it is not supported by advertising alone. The number of people reading our paper and visiting our website has never been higher or more engaged, yet most of our readers pay nothing. That is not a sustainable business model in an era when small, locally-owned retail businesses are giving way to large chain stores or online shopping sites, and one result is a decrease or elimination of advertising in local newspapers. In short, we need to create more balance between the revenue we bring in from advertisers and that from readers.
I'm already a paid subscriber/member to your print edition. Do I have to pay more to use your website?
No. If you have paid for a subscription through our Support Local Journalism membership program you get free access to all of our online content as long as you keep your subscription membership current. In order for us to verify your subscription status, click on the link that says "Link your subscription" when you see that option on the pop-up screens warning you about the need to pay after 5 stories or on the notice shown once you are blocked from reading any further stories. You'll be prompted for your name and address so we can confirm your subscription in our records (within two business days.)
You will also need to set up an online account and password if you are not already registered on our site. Once you've done this, and after we verify your subscription, your account will be designated as a subscribing member and you will never encounter any mention of the pay meter again (as long as you are logged into the site.)
What are the subscription options?
A full year starts at $60 for seniors and students and $180 for everyone else. This includes both online access and delivery of the printed paper for those who live in our circulation area. A one-month pass is $15. You can also sign up for a monthly subscription using an ongoing credit card charge. Plus and Premium subscriptions are $144 and $300+ per year, respectively, and provide a way to increase your level of support and receive invitations to occasional special member-only events or special offers.
I am a registered user and log in to your site to participate in the Town Square forum. Doesn't that mean I'm a paid subscriber? Why am I being blocked from seeing stories?
Registering on our site is unrelated to whether you are a paid subscribing member. Registration is free and allows you to post comments on Town Square. While some registered users are also paid subscribers, most are not. If you think you have paid for a subscription or membership within the last year, then click on the link that says "Link my existing subscription" when you see that option on either the pop-up screens warning you about the need to pay after 5 stories or on the notice shown once you are blocked from reading any further stories. You'll be prompted for your name and address so we can confirm your subscription in our records.
Does a subscription membership to one of your newspapers and websites give me free access to your other websites?
Yes. As long as you have created an account on one of our websites and are a paid subscriber/member, you'll have access to all of our websites.
How do I know how many articles I have read?
If you aren't yet a paid subscriber or you are but haven't logged in, you will see a small "meter" showing how many articles you've read once you have read 3 articles. This will appear at the top of every story you read, and will serve as a reminder as you approach the 5 story limit.
If I return to a story I've already read, does it count again toward the 5 story limit?
No. You can return to read a story or to comment or follow the story in Town Square without it counting as a new page view.
I'm having trouble logging in. When I log in using my username and password I receive a message that they are not valid or are already in use.
The easiest way to solve this is to re-set your password. You will be prompted for the email address you registered under and then within the next few minutes will be sent an email with a link to change your password.
Do you store my credit card number?
We do not store your credit card. Instead, we use a third party PCI compliant partner (Braintree) to securely save your credit card data and make recurring charges.
