• by Ray Schultz , May 29, 2025

Paywalls are being utilized not only by major publishers, but by small-town periodicals. 

The Minden (Louisiana) Press-Herald is restoring the paywall that it had lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The June 2 return is being made because “providing professional, timely, and trustworthy local journalism isn’t free,” writes David Specht, president of publisher Specht Newspapers, Inc. 

Specht adds: “There are real costs behind every story: reporters who attend meetings late into the night, photographers who capture history in the making, editors who work tirelessly to ensure accuracy, and the technology that delivers it all to your screen or doorstep.”

The publication is providing the following fairly standard subscription options:

• A free registration level that allows the reader to access a limited number of articles each month
• An email-only subscription that provides newsletters and updates
  
• Monthly and annual digital subscriptions that Specht claims are affordable
  
• A print plus digital bundle

Specht tells readers: “Whether you visit our site once a month or every single day, there’s a place for you in the Press-Herald family.”