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Website's premium content to require subscription
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Monday, the Coastal Courier will introduce a new paid model on our website, coastalcourier.com, for subscribers who want to access premium content. A paid subscription will be required to read most local news and sports stories in full.
"We launched a dynamic new web site in early December with more local video, local photos, blogs, local events and the complete paper for those who use the web site exclusively. Like most media companies we have placed a small charge for premium content. Of course subscribers to the print edition will continue to have full, free access to the site," Courier Publisher Mark Griffin said.
The move is in conjunction with improvements that have been launched on the site over the past few months, including expanded news content, services, easy navigation, an event calendar, more audio and video and other local features.
Much of the content on the new Coastalcourier.com will still be free and easy to find, including local pictures, weather, special sections, video, classified ads, coupons, blogs, polls, entertainment, regional news, contests and more.
Current print subscribers will still have unrestricted access to the site and, through the weekend, the Courier is offering a special "E" subscription package that includes full access to complete stories online, the complete printed edition online and the print edition delivered to subscribers' homes.
Delivery of the print edition three times each week includes copies of all special sections, weekly advertising inserts, offers from local businesses and Liberty Life magazine.
The "E" package price is $39 for one year or $30 for six months. Online users may also subscribe to the website only for $28 per year or $21 for six months.
"On Feb. 7 Coastalcourier.com will transition to a premium pricing strategy, offering premium content for a small fee. This premium or subscriber content is proprietary news and information developed by the Courier's local news and sports reporters and other journalists. It will be accessible to paying print or digital subscribers. Headlines, blogs, obituaries, classifieds and non-proprietary content like syndicated wire stories will remain free," Griffin said.
Coastalcourier.com, which receives more than 60,000 total page views each week, will still display story summaries for all users.
"Web users who do not subscribe to the paper will need to register and subscribe to the site to read all major news stories in full," Courier web editor Pat Watkins said, "but all users will be able to read the first few sentences of every story."
Since 1871, the Coastal Courier has been serving Liberty and surrounding counties delivering local news and sports and helping readers celebrate their accomplishments, milestones and special occasions.
Courier journalists continue to win impressive state awards for reporting, photography, page layout and video projects.
Last year the newspaper's website was named best weekly newspaper website in Georgia by the Georgia Press Association. The site has been recognized for its diverse offerings of local news, sports information, photos, blogs, entertainment stories, reader polls and more.

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