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Some substantial changes are coming to the Powell Tribune’s website.
Since the Tribune site launched decades ago, it’s undergone multiple redesigns, but two things have remained consistent: Only a small fraction of the paper’s news stories have been placed online — and that limited content has been freely available.
The Tribune is now changing that approach.
Starting on June 4, nearly all of the content that appears in the newspaper — from the Tribune’s in-depth reporting to news releases to letters to the editor — will also appear on powelltribune.com. The expanded online access is included with a Tribune subscription.
“Our print edition of the Powell Tribune remains the primary way that people stay in touch with what’s going on in our community,” said Tribune General Manager Toby Bonner. “But we also know more and more people are turning to the web for their information, and we want to do everything we can to serve those readers, too.”
Data indicates that Tribune readership online is at an all-time high: So far in 2019, powelltribune.com has recorded more than 400,000 page views. That’s a roughly 33 percent jump from the same period in 2018.
However, like other small newspapers, the print edition of the Tribune continues to provide the vast majority of the paper’s revenue.
“Media analysts have long talked about newspapers being forced to trade ‘print dollars for digital pennies,’ and that’s not much of an exaggeration,” said Bonner.
Although many Americans have become used to getting online news for free, news remains costly to produce.
As a result, at the same time that the Tribune expands its online presence, powelltribune.com will be outfitted with what’s known as a “metered paywall.” It will allow visitors to the Tribune website to read five articles per month. After that, they’ll be prompted to buy a monthly, half-year or full-year subscription if they want to continue reading.
“We can’t afford to continue to give our work away online,” said Tribune Editor CJ Baker. “We believe our coverage of the community is well worth the cost of a subscription and we hope our online readers agree.”
Baker noted that the Tribune covers a wide range of news in and around Powell and Park County — from government meetings to prep sports to community events.
In addition to providing unlimited access to the Tribune’s website, the half- and full-year subscriptions will also include the print edition of the newspaper. Meanwhile, for folks who already subscribe to the Tribune, the expanded online access is included with their current subscriptions; all they’ll need to do is sign up for an online account.
Some portions of powelltribune.com will remain freely accessible, including all obituaries, the community calendar, classifieds, public notices and advertisements.
There will be a small amount of content that will continue to only appear in print — namely, the court and police blotters, divorces, marriage licenses and other materials that appear on the Digest page.
Through Friday, June 28, the Tribune is offering a full-year subscription at half price. To take advantage of the offer, visit www.powelltribune.com/subscribe and enter the promo code HALFOFF.
For more information, call 754-2221 or stop by the Tribune office at 128 S. Bent St. in downtown Powell.
