Starting today (May 9), the Grand Forks Gazette is going the route of eSubscriptions and subscribers will enjoy full access to the newspaper's premium online content at no additional cost.
This is an important step as part of a growing industry trend to reward our loyal readers with free, unlimited access to all the local coverage you expect from your community newspaper.
That means all website content, including our new eEdition (a digital replica of the paper), is now included in the cost of your paid subscription.
To set up, after going to The Gazette’s website and reading online content, a “welcome to the grandforksgazette.ca” box will come up. Follow the prompts to get eSubscription access – it is similar to setting up an email account.
Your access number for the website is your subscriber account number located in the top left corner of the subscription label on your newspaper. If you have any difficulty or questions please call The Gazette office at 250-442-2191 and press 0 or call the Black Press help desk at 1-888-811-5627.
Readers who want to forgo the print edition, can access digital-only premium content on a paid semi-annual or annual basis.
With this step, the Grand Forks Gazette joins scores of paid circulation community newspapers in cities large and small across the country, which are recognizing the value of their online content.
Next-generation products such as online content and eEditions, play an important part of The Gazette's future. The Gazette will deliver the news and information to readers when they want it, where they want it, be it on their iPads, laptops or desktops.
The stories written by Gazette staff are unique to the Boundary; there is an inherent value in that. Print subscribers appreciate it and it should be recognized in all facets of our industry, including the emerging online component.
Subscribers will enjoy privileges that include ability to forward stories via email or social media accounts, participate in online discussions and access all content.
Non-subscribers still will have free digital access to limited areas, such as provincial news, section fronts, blogs, classifieds and obituaries. When Breaking News happens locally, that too will be available to all site visitors at no charge, this story being an example of that feature.
The Gazette's all-access paid premium print and online model represents next-generation thinking for the newspaper industry, The Gazette has that audience through subscribers and we owe it to our print readers to share the same respect for them with our online product.