We are thrilled to launch our new MV Times membership program. this means you, our readers, can join our community in a more tangible way, and be part of the public service that is independent, local news. And on top of supporting local, independent journalism, you’ll also be receiving new membership perks.
So what’s the real difference between being a subscriber and joining as a member? The short answer is not very much, but the change does come with a big idea which is for this news organization to sustain we have to all join together as members in a community to support the coverage. That’s why we are calling it “membership.”
In the days and weeks ahead, you will be receiving a set of emails about the logistics of signing up and how it will all work. We are already hearing from some of you about confusion around resetting email passwords. Thanks for your patience while we work out some kinks. Change is always a bit disconcerting. But we want to assure you the process of resetting your password is very straightforward and we are happy to walk you through it if you are not able to navigate the online prompts. You can send any questions to memberships@mvtimes.com.
To be clear, if you are a current MV Times subscriber, nothing will change immediately in the delivery of your print edition. Your existing subscription will remain as it is until your renewal date, at which point the measured increase from $45 annually to $52 for basic annual membership will take effect.
When it is time for your subscription renewal, we will remind you about this, invite you to join our community as a member, and instruct you on how to do that simple task. Your continuing contribution will help us continue to shine a light on issues that might otherwise be missed, and connect our Island through storytelling.
If you are a former MV Times subscriber, or someone who has never subscribed, we invite you to seize this moment to join our community through this membership model. When you take the step to become a member, you will be eligible for new benefits through our different tiers of membership.
This is an important change for us in how we will continue to grow our community of readers, and how we can best serve our Island community with trusted and fair coverage of the big issues we face and the great, human narratives that we share every day in print and online.
This pioneering approach to creating a membership model is a practical and necessary response to a challenging environment for local news organizations, which are struggling around the country to find ways to sustain operations and keep serving readers. We hope you might take a moment to consider how important local news is for all of us on this Island, and consider joining as a member. Your support means the world to us.
Becoming a member-funded newsroom means we’re bound together with you, our community of readers, providing you with the impactful news you’ve always come to expect from The MV Times, and also offering opportunities for speakers’ series and more direct interaction with our newsroom. There is also a very practical side to this.
Memberships will make our reporting possible, from stories about environmental challenges to affordable housing, to high school sports. We’re here to amplify the voices and concerns of all Martha’s Vineyard residents, to keep our Island empowered with information. But to do that we will need the revenue that comes through your support as a member of The MV Times. Please take the time today to engage with our membership model, and be sure you are up to speed on all that it has to offer. Here are the three tiers of membership we are offering:
MEMBER: $52/year which includes:
- The print edition delivered to your mailbox
- Unlimited access to the articles on MVTimes.com and to our daily newsletter, The Minute.
- Two email addresses to access all digital content
- Access to commenting on articles and sharing your point of view in the community.
SUSTAINER: $100/year, which includes everything in the Member level, plus:
- Four email addresses, or four seats at the table for you and family or loved ones to access all digital content.
- Regular members-only newsletter from the publisher
- Gift an article to nonsubscribers
ADVOCATE: $250/year, which includes everything in the Member and Sustainer levels, plus:
- Six email addresses
- VIP access to our Speaker Series and quarterly newsroom meetings
- MV Times swag, which will soon be featured on the website, including an MV Times cap and a coffee mug.
We’d love to welcome you to the MV Times member community today. If you’re able, please consider joining us at whatever membership level is right for you. If you have any questions, please reach out by email here: memberships@mvtimes.com.
