How we bring you the North Star is changing
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Readers, the way we’re going to bring you local news which matters most to you is changing.
After well over a century of covering communities across Ross-shire, we have made the difficult but right decision to no longer publish the North Star as a traditional newspaper.
The North Star has been proud to be at the heart of local communities through good times and bad, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of people across Ross-shire.
Over the last decade, the way our readers engage with the North Star has evolved dramatically – many, many more people read our content online than in print. And with the rising cost of raw materials, energy and transport, producing printed newspapers is becoming more difficult to keep economically viable.
What hasn’t changed is our commitment to covering your community. Our journalists live and work in the communities they cover – and they will continue to.
Something else that hasn’t changed is the appetite among local people for the content we produce. Every month online articles across our group of local news websites are read millions of times.
More than 50,000 of you have signed up as registered users of our websites. Some 20,000 have signed up to receive daily or weekly email newsletters, and most importantly thousands of you have become digital subscribers and are reading our content on our website and app.
You will still be able to get all the local news you’d usually read in the North Star. But it will now be incorporated into the Ross-shire Journal.
This decision means more focus can be placed on increasing the depth of coverage in the Ross-shire area – especially online.
And so you don’t miss anything, we have a special offer for North Star readers, where you can sign up now to be a digital subscriber of the Ross-shire Journal for £1 per month for the first six months of 2023 (£4.99 per month thereafter).
To access the special offer when becoming a digital subscriber, use promo code: NS at www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/subscribe
Subscribers have access to replica e-editions of all Highland News & Media (HNM) titles, unlimited access to all online content – all of which can be accessed via the HNM App. And it is easier and better value than purchasing a print copy.
We’ve covered some great stories over the years in the North Star.
Our reports on the plight of little Adeline Davidson, an Invergordon tot requiring a perfect match bone marrow transplant for a chance of life was not just a compelling human interest story that touched many hearts but also an opportunity to raise awareness and make a difference.
Reflecting the courage and determination of her parents and loved ones, we were able to help dramatically increase the number of people locally stepping up to offer help. The paper’s awareness-raising role across many issues has been a constant in changing times.
Our story about an octogenarian, Nick Gardner, spurred to climb all of Scotland’s Munros as an awareness-raiser for dementia research and the ailments affecting his beloved wife, was picked up nationally, inspiring thousands along the way.
It has been our privilege to serve wonderful communities and tell the stories of their people. The unprecedented experience of the coronavirus pandemic brought out the magnificent community spirit which has always been a hallmark of the area. Stories of ordinary people responding to extraordinary times with kindness, compassion and concern for others were a true inspiration in uncertain times.
And while the media has sometimes been accused of focusing on doom and gloom, we have taken pride in reflecting the good things people have been doing and the achievements of those within our readership. Being close to the community, we have been able to quickly pick up on these good news stories and share them with the audience they deserve.
We’ll still aim to bring you stories like these, be a campaigning voice for your community and hold those in powerful positions to account.
The final print edition of the North Star will be published on December 29. After decades of publishing in print it’s definitely the end of an era – but there’s also a commitment from us to embrace the digital opportunities.
Thanks for being a loyal reader and we hope you continue to be,
The North Star Team.
