Subscriptions to the Register Star give you access to our best work

You may have noticed over the past year that more and more of our stories are being designated "for subscribers."

We use a subscription model at the Rockford Register Star, and by publishing certain stories "for subscribers," we are bringing value to thousands of subscribers who have chosen to support our work.

I want to thank everyone who subscribes. Whether you've been subscribing for years or are one of our new subscribers, whether you are getting our newspaper delivered to your home or business or are paying for full access to rrstar.com, we are happy you are here. We are grateful that you are here, and we aim to bring value to that subscription by continuing to bring you stories you can't get anywhere else.

People ask all of the time — Why would I subscribe for something that I can get for free?

We agree. That's not a good business model. That's why, whenever possible, we work hard to give readers stories they're not getting anywhere else.

We're still covering news that's important to know — major announcements, major decisions, major crimes. But we may take a different approach in our reporting.

At the Register Star, we strive to tell all sides of the story of our community, not just the good parts or just the bad parts but the whole story and why it matters. Our coverage may overlap from time to time with other news sources and breaking news will always have all of us scrambling in the same direction, but at the end of the day what we value most is being able to bring you unique storytelling and investigative reporting.

Local journalism is about asking hard questions and not accepting just any answer as a response. It's about covering topics that aren't getting enough attention or the right kind of attention and giving readers stories that help them better understand all aspects of their lives. It's about being the watchdogs communities rely on to keep them informed and connecting the dots.

Subscribe here:https://cm.rrstar.com/specialoffer/

The Rockford Register Star news team is made up of some of the most well-known and trusted names in Rockford journalism — names like Jeff Kolkey, Chris Green, Matt Trowbridge, Jay Taft, Ken DeCoster, Jim Hagerty, Andy Carrigan and Chris Nieves. Together, our staff of nine has more than 200 years of journalism experience, almost all of it in the Rockford area.

In the past couple of weeks alone, we've shared stories with our readers on the retirement of one of Rockford's most beloved pediatricians, an exclusive interview with the mom of a Rockford woman who was brutally killed, how the race for Winnebago County Coroner is shaping up, what and who are behind the plans to open abortion clinics in Rockford, what happened on election night that caused 20,000 referendum votes to not be counted and the inspiring story of a Rockford woman who overcame addiction to find musical success with the Tony-award-winning "Six."

In sports, readers were able to learn of the Belvidere football coach and his courageous battle against cancer, the rising popularity of disc golf, the latest IceHogs news from Blackhawks camp and updates on Rockford area female wrestling phenoms.

If you've never had a subscription before to a newspaper or magazine, paying for access to a local news website may seem like an odd proposition. Then again, I remember when people balked at the idea of paying to shop at a grocery store. Times change. People change.

I've had subscriptions my entire life. My first was to Ranger Rick, a magazine by the National Wildlife Federation. It started arriving to our home before I could even read.

Getting that magazine once a month was a special part of my childhood. It connected me to a world beyond my own backyard and introduced me to nature and the environment.

Today, I imagine that same publication does the same for hundreds of thousands of kids today whose parents give them a digital subscription to read about Ranger Rick and Scarlett Fox and the Deep Green Wood on their tablets. Same goals, different delivery method.

Some of the best journalism this country has to offer operates on subscription models. From the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times to various smaller outlets across the country, readers help support journalists so they can do their jobs well and remain independent.

The fees these news organizations charge are minimal compared to the dozens of other subscriptions people tend to have for things like cable television, digital music services and shopping networks. At the Register Star, our introductory offers are even less. I'm talking $1 or $2 a month.

Today, the Rockford Register Star is lucky to still have a large number of print subscribers remaining across the region and a steadily growing list of digital subscribers. We are heading in the right direction, and we're excited to add more and grow.

If you're willing to give us a shot, we're willing to do our best to give Rockford readers the stories they want and need.

Corina Curry is the news director of the Rockford Register Star. She grew up in the news industry and has been working as a reporter and editor in Rockford for the past 23 years. You can email her at ccurry@rrstar.com or find her on Twitter @corinacurry.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Subscriptions to Rockford Register Star give you access to best work