On Wednesday, The Guardian announced a membership program to help readers get closer to journalists.
Guardian Editor-In-Chief Alan Rusbridger wrote about the program, which includes a physical space for events. You can be a friend for free, a partner for 135 pounds a year (currently about $217,) and a patron for 540 pounds a year, (or $870.)
There’s also a physical space for events.
In 2016 we will open a space in the Midland Goods Shed over the road from our offices, where we will host discussions, events and screenings, and provide an area for general relaxation for all.
The Grade II Listed Midland Goods Shed was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1850, and served as part of a temporary passenger terminal while the current King’s Cross station was being built. It was converted to a goods shed in 1857.
Slate also offers such a program — Slate Plus, which was announced in April. It’s a bit cheaper, at $5 a month or $50 a year. Slate Plus members get “special access” to writers and editors, ad-free podcasts, then-editor David Plotz wrote, and “Slate Plus members will automatically get single-page articles throughout the site. Members will also be able to read and post comments directly on article pages, rather in a pop-up window, and we’ll highlight member comments. We’ll post some of our feature stories early to Slate Plus, too.”