Hey everyone!
First off, thank you for being here. Marginalia started as a small experiment: a weekday, morning rundown of today’s news in the United States and around the world. As we rapidly approach the end of the year, and the one-year anniversary of Marginalia, it feels like the right moment to take stock of what this newsletter has become, and where it could go next.
Close to a year on, there are now more than 2,300 of you reading along. We are still a small publication, but for something that began as a side project, it’s a lot.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what’s next. It has been suggested to me that perhaps we turn on the the subscription feature. To make this decision, I need your input. Specifically:
Should Marginalia stay 100% free for the time being, or is it time to introduce paid subscriptions?
I don’t want to put up a paywall for the sake of it. I’d only do it if enough of you think this work is worth supporting directly. A paid tier could help make Marginalia more sustainable, but it only makes sense if it feels right for the community.
So, I’d love to hear from you:
Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber to Marginalia?
If so, what feels like the right price point? ($5? $10? I’m open to your thoughts)
If you are interested in giving input, fill out the short poll below.
I’ll be transparent about whatever I decide. No matter what, the daily newsletter will stay free for now.
Thanks again for reading, sharing, and supporting Marginalia. You’re the reason this exists at all.
— Matt
Now is not a great time to sign up for subscriptions, in my opinion. Unless you had a free version and then a paid one, or you could use Substack. If you end up doing a paid one, I would offer something like $2.99/month or $29.99/year. $5 and $10 a month is a lot. Good luck!
I already subscribe to 19 Substacks and am going to have to cut back. I can’t afford another sub right now. But appreciate your work!