JPI Media is trailing a paywall at the Blackpool Gazette, it comes just a few months after the publisher raised the cover price on a number of its North West papers.
Readers are being given an introductory offer of £1 per month, for 3 months and those not subscribing will be allowed to access up to 5 free titles every month.
In an editorial, the Blackpool Gazette explained the move:
“We love providing you with the news and we trust that you want to stay on this journey with us.
“But quality journalism costs money and so today we are calling on the support of our loyal readers to sustain this by subscribing to our blackpoolgazette.co.uk website.
“Our new subscription is focused on helping you stay in the know and to have an enhanced and more enjoyable online experience. This means fewer advertisements, access to our newsletters, and free access to the app version of The Gazette.
“It is through the financial support of our readers that we can continue to focus more on the news you want to read about and report more on the issues that matter to you.
“It gives our journalists the freedom to continue reporting on the important events of the day; focusing on factual storytelling which impacts on your lives, investigating, holding powers to account, being your voice and fighting for justice.”
It continues:
“With an increase in unregulated content and sometimes inaccurate news made available through social media it is more important than ever that our regulated and trusted voice remains loud and clear – and talking for you.
At The Gazette, we do not just report on our local communities. We are part of our local communities. We care about what you care about, we enjoy doing what you enjoy doing.
“You are at the centre of what we do – and so from today we will be counting on your continued support. Paying for news is an investment in the future of our communities, our local economy and democracy.”
JPI Media’s Chief Executive, David King stated that other titles would follow.
