Local News

Chronicle plans paywall to keep local news flowing

The Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle will soon join the ranks of such illustrious news organizations as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. 
We are implementing what is commonly referred to as a paywall, effective Jan. 1.

Paywall is the common term, but we prefer to think of it as a local news support system. That is, by implementing a convenient means for readers to provide a more stable revenue stream we’re ensuring that the Chronicle will be able to continue offering a daily stream of news and features about the H-F community for a long time to come. 

It already happens in an ad hoc way. We have been grateful to receive community financial support almost since the beginning. In 2015, we asked if you would pitch in to help start a print edition. You did. This year, we started the Reporter Supporter Club to expand that source of revenue. 

You were generous again, and that has made a big difference as we deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As with many current models, the Chronicle pay opportunity (isn’t an opportunity better than a wall?) will let people read some before paying. We will be using a service called LaterPay that allows us to set a price per article, but readers don’t have to pay until the articles they read totals $5 or more. You can also subscribe and pay monthly or annually, or buy a two-week pass. 

You can find out more about LaterPay and how it works at support.laterpay.net/english.

To meet our mission of access to local news, our print edition will continue to be mailed at no charge to all residential postal routes in Homewood and Flossmoor. 

Please share your questions and concerns by email to [email protected] or postal mail to H-F Chronicle, P.O. Box 461, Flossmoor, IL 60422.

We are devoted to this community, and we very much appreciate your support for the Chronicle.

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