Why some content will be marked 'for subscribers' and why you should subscribe
One of the most frequent questions I'm asked: How is the new job going?
It's a softball question. I love my job and I love working with talented and dedicated journalists.
The Journal Star has reporters who have spent decades covering this community. We provide the most unique coverage on local government, high school sports, Bradley basketball, health, restaurants and other businesses.
Reporters Leslie Renken, Dave Eminian and Andy Kravetz are familiar names who work hard to tell the most important and interesting stories in this community.
You may not know the names of other folks working behind the scenes to get news out on a daily basis, but they live in this community, frequent the same businesses you do and raise their children here.
This newsroom has shed light on homelessness in Peoria, answered questions for the most vulnerable during the pandemic, chronicled the tragic deaths of people who have died because of COVID-19 and highlighted the successes and struggles of local businesses.
Local journalism, including the photos you see from photographer Matt Dayhoff, takes time and effort. This work, whether done in a day or worked on for weeks, is worthy of paying customers.
A bridge to somewhere — homeless on the move in Peoria
Why don't people pay for news online?
I know some people think all news should be free. I understand how that mentality was fostered, but I disagree.
We pay for service at the cleaners. We pay for meals at our favorite restaurants and we tip the workers. We pay for music. We pay for Netflix and Hulu.
But when it comes to online news, the thinking seems to shift for many. The industry itself contributed to this entitlement.
Once the internet age began, newspapers nationwide miscalculated when they provided all of their content for free. Meanwhile, that same internet ate into print advertising and consequently revenue. The pandemic has accelerated that downturn as it has hurt all businesses.
Improved business model for newspapers
To stem the tide, in the last few years, newspapers and other news outlets have changed their business model online.
Many provide articles for free but require a subscription for access to certain articles that are unique, provide in-depth detail or exclusive analysis. You see this, or some variation of it, with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, countless other news outlets and even ESPN.com.
The Journal Star has moved to this model of making certain stories for subscribers only.
I know this is jarring for some folks. For 20-plus years, newspapers have pretty much given away content for free online. The Journal Star has allowed readers to access a certain number of articles for free before requiring a subscription for access — and that still is the case for most of our coverage, including breaking news, and routine coverage of local government and schools.
I know this frustrates members of the community when they hit our "pay wall" because I've seen the comments on social media. And I always wonder if you're not willing to pay for news at all, or you're only willing to pay for certain kinds of news or from certain news outlets.
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Benefits of a digital subscription
Honestly, I'm not here to make an argument to folks who would never, ever consider paying for news. I want to speak to people who want to support the local newspaper and its employees, but might be unsure about subscribing digitally.
I'm here to tell you what we provide and hope that you see the value in it, or give you the opportunity to tell me what you'd like to see from us. It's our job to distinguish ourselves from TV news and other competitors.
Your support through a digital subscription helps ensure that we can continue to be a voice for the voiceless, highlight the positives in our community and keep a watch on what your elected officials are doing.
Many of our readers find that a digital subscription is more affordable than a print subscription. And the digital plan comes with our e-edition, which shows you exactly what the paper looks like and allows you to read the stories as they appear in print. You have unlimited access to our local content, as well as stories of statewide interest from sister papers in Illinois, including in Springfield, which covers the legislature.
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Our special offer for new subscribers
If you're already a digital subscriber, nothing changes. You will continue to have unlimited digital access. But you'll notice which stories are "for subscribers," meaning they are only accessible to readers with a subscription.
If you're a print subscriber, whether Sunday only or seven days, you already have unlimited digital access. If you would like to subscribe, click here for our special introductory offer.
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Romando Dixson is the executive editor of the Journal Star. He can be reached at rdixson@gannett.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Journal Star will mark certain stories for subscribers only
