December, 2017
Dear Edge Reader,
The Berkshire Edge is introducing a membership program, and we invite you to join.
Not surprising, as The Edge has been a community effort from the start. About four years ago, as internet publishing grew viable, many of you encouraged David Scribner to bring his experience as an editor and journalist with deep local roots to start a new “paper.” I brought media business experience to the effort, and we have built a solid community of local writers.
We also consulted many of you about the purpose and direction of The Edge. You said you wanted a publication that would
- explore, in depth, the issues that really matter to you here in the Berkshires;
- welcome the many diverse voices in our interesting community;
- promote an exchange of ideas among writers and readers;
- help publicize and support the events, cultural life and organizations that make the Berkshires special; and, of course,
- be fun to read.
We have worked hard to create the paper you asked for. Thanks to your enthusiastic response, we have grown by word of mouth alone. You started reading The Edge, and then you told your friends, and your friends told their friends. Now, you and more than 100,000 other readers visit us every month.
Why are we launching this membership program?
- To date, advertising has been our only revenue source. While local businesses have been very supportive, ad revenues don’t cover our costs;
- We believe that, to be independent, the press should have the backing of both its readers and advertisers;
- As we have grown, you are enjoying more reporting and special features from throughout our region, and that costs money; and
- Web technology that makes The Edge easy for you to navigate and that gives you the best online experience is expensive.
No, you don’t have to pay to read The Edge. But, if you do read The Edge and feel that it serves you, informs you and contributes to your enjoyment of the Berkshires, we now ask you to support The Edge by joining our community of members. Click here to see the costs and unique benefits that come with our three levels of membership.
We thank you in advance for joining in.
Sincerely yours,
Marcie L. Setlow, Publisher
The Berkshire Edge
P.S. David and I ask you, as an opinion leader, not to delay in joining us. Your early support will encourage your friends and neighbors to follow your lead. Click here to see our levels of membership and their benefits.
[products limit=”3″ columns=”3″ category=”recurring” orderby=”id” order=”desc”]
