WAUPACA – Multi Media Channels, which owns several newspapers in central and northeastern Wisconsin, is launching a paywall for its Waupaca County News website beginning Sept. 13.
Robert Cloud, managing editor of the Waupaca County Post, announced the change Thursday, noting that “even digital news costs money to produce.” The Waupaca County News website also offers stories from the New London Press Star and Clintonville Tribune-Gazette.
The move comes as newspaper readers increasingly are getting their news in digital and mobile formats. Expanded digital coverage also allows weekly newspaper to reach readers in a more timely and personal manner. Their daily online coverage offers things the weekly printed issues simply cannot, such as photo galleries from local events and video highlights of high school sports.
When the paywall launches, readers will be able to access five stories per month for free. After those five stories, they will be asked to register or subscribe.
Current MMC subscribers receive digital access at no extra cost, but must visit mmcsubscriptions.com to register. When filling out the online form, they will need their subscription number, which can be found on the mailing label.
New subscribers can sign up here, with yearly newspaper subscriptions ranging from $49 for one year to $79 for two. Readers also can sign up for online-only subscriptions at two rates: 99 cents per month or $9.99 per year.
As MMC works to offer a “better, more creative news product” online, it hopes subscribers will continue to support the newspapers’ ability to provide communities with local news coverage.
