Full access to all of the local news, sport and community information from Kempsey Shire produced by the Macleay Argus journalists, plus the latest in national news, sport and lifestyle advice,  will cost $2 a week from October 23.

As announced previously, the new subscription package includes access to the digital print edition of the Macleay Argus, an interactive digital version that allows every page of the newspaper to be read on a tablet or desktop.

Subscribers also have the option to receive regular news and sport updates, including breaking-news alerts, by email.

Readers can sign up and pay for a subscription at www.macleayargus.com.au from October 23. The first 30 days of unlimited website access is free for subscribers, who can choose to pay monthly or take out an annual subscription with a 20 per cent discount.

Non-subscribers coming directly to www.macleayargus.com.au, or from a search engine or social media, will see a meter displayed at the bottom of the article they are reading. The meter will show the number of articles they have read in the past month. After reading five articles in a month, the next article opened will invite the user to subscribe for full website access.

Some website content will remain open to all visitors, including classified advertisements, such as birth and funeral notices, and recommended articles featuring local businesses and sponsored content.

Website visitors can also sign up to have a free newsletter emailed regularly to their inbox, making it easier to browse the latest headlines and see what’s making news in Kempsey Shire.

The changes do not affect the printed version of the Macleay Argus, which continues to be published on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Visit www.macleayargus.com.au on October 23 for more information about how to subscribe.