Hearst Connecticut to launch digital subscriptions program
A major evolution in local journalism will come with the launch of a digital subscription program next week at six Hearst Connecticut daily newspapers, something that print subscribers will have access to at no additional charge.
Subscribers to Greenwich Time, the Stamford Advocate, Connecticut Post, New Haven Register, Danbury NewsTimes, and Norwalk Hour will have access to our premium local news coverage — including investigative and enterprise reporting and analysis, features and columnists — on a newly designed, easier to read website.
The “Insider” experience is also an unprecedented invitation into the process our newsrooms use to decide which local issues, problems and opportunities to cover. Subscribers will receive an exclusive daily email newsletter with a guide to our journalism and a behindthescenes look at decisionmaking. They’ll have access to reporters, columnists and experts through live chats and a subscribersonly Facebook group, along with invitations to monthly inperson coffees with the editors.
With the launch, story commenting on both the free and premium portions of our websites will be open to subscribers only, and reporters and editors will participate with readers in that forum.
For readers who already subscribe to the print edition or eedition of the newspaper, the Insider digital subscription will be available at no additional cost. A digital subscription to one of the six Connecticut daily newspapers provides access to all.
Why start charging when readers have been able to consume local news coverage for free online?
Hearst’s Connecticut newspapers employ more than twice as many journalists as any other local news organization in the state, and are among the very last in the state to launch a digital subscription program.
In recent months, our reporters have exposed corruption in local city halls, uncovered risks to public health that officials were keeping quiet, detailed waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars, and have told community stories that have prompted laughter, tears, hope, outrage and action.
For a single reporting project, seven reporters and editors put in more than 3,000 hours over six months to break a nationwide investigation into sexual abuse connected to Boys & Girls Clubs. It prompted an immediate set of actions to improve safety by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and calls among Connecticut lawmakers for more legal oversight.
Our coverage of state government and high school sports is the most extensive in the state, and Jeff Jacobs, one of the premiere sports columnists in the country, provides key insight into UConn athletics and more.
Behind the scenes, we’re already working to create extensive, townbytown coverage of municipal and school elections.
A significant investment goes into employing the reporters, photographers and editors who cover local schools and government, breaking news and crime, local sports, business and state issues. In addition to the premium content and benefits that will be associated with an “Insider” subscription, we will continue to provide comprehensive local breaking news coverage and online features accessible to all.
Many readers want to support this kind of level of local journalism. We’re pleased to have built something that is not only an easier read, but also an invitation to be on the “Inside” and collaborate with us in exploring and discussing our state’s most pressing issues, challenges and opportunities.
We’re eager to know what you think.