It was a great solution for its time, but the digital landscape has changed dramatically.

In 2026, publishers are no longer competing only with social media or aggregator sites. They are competing with AI systems capable of scraping, repackaging, and redistributing content at scale. And unfortunately, metered paywalls are uniquely vulnerable to this new reality.

Why Metered Paywalls Worked — Until They Didn’t

The metered model was built on a the assumption that users behave like individuals. A single reader typically uses just one browser, a small number of devices, a limited number of IP addresses, and cookies that track article views.

Metered paywalls track article counts via cookies and IP logging. When the limit is reached, access is restricted. For human readers, this works reasonably well, but for AI-driven scraping systems, it doesn’t offer the same kind of content protection.

How AI Exploits Metered Systems

Modern scraping systems do not operate like traditional bots from a single IP address. Instead, they use:

• Rotating IP address pools
• Distributed cloud infrastructure
• Headless browsers that mimic human behavior
• Cookie resets and session spoofing
• Residential proxy networks

In other words, an AI system can access your content as if it were thousands of different “first-time readers.” Every request looks legitimate, and every session appears new; so the Meter never ticks down.

This means that AI systems can summarize and redistribute your content, republishing it on aggregator sites, using it to train AI models, or even sharing it freely to individuals via AI chat tools.

The Solution: The Hard Paywall

Although our platform engineers are frequently blocking bots and AI crawlers, it is virtually impossible to block them all and eliminate any risk of AI stealing your content. The most effective way of preventing this is to implement the age old “hard paywall.”

A hard paywall removes the “preview” model entirely and forces a user to purchase a paid subscription in order to access any content. Under this model, automated scraping by AI becomes significantly more difficult and costly. While no system is invulnerable, hard paywalls dramatically raise the barrier.

Of course, this change is not about punishing or limiting readers, but rather about protecting journalism. Metered paywalls were designed in an era where the biggest threat was casual sharing. Today, the threat is automated content scraping at industrial scale.

If you’re currently using a Metered Paywall and have concerns about your content being scraped or stolen, you may want to consider switching to a Hard Paywall model. Our team can help you make this change at any time. Just email our support team at ops@our-hometown.com to get started!

The post The Metered Paywall Problem in the Age of AI first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The three pillars of accountability established by the Government in the Sunshine Act include the distribution of public notices, FOIA, and open access to public meetings. Serving as a neutral entity that is both free from outside influence and publicly accessible, newspapers have held the distinction of being a community’s primary source for public notices. These notices, in turn, have provided papers with a consistent revenue source that has helped maintain their operations.

As news coverage across the country shrinks, many communities have been left without a consistent source of local news. The UNC Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media defines these “news deserts” as “a community, either rural or urban, with limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level.” 

Based on 2025 reports by Northwestern MEDILL, the number of communities without a reliable local news source has hit a record high in the past year. 136 newspapers have closed in the past year, leading to 213 counties being considered “news deserts,” and an additional 1,524 counties only having one active newspaper.

There is some hope, though, as many publishers and local governments are taking steps to adapt to the modern media environment. In 2025, 80% of local news startups in the past five years have been digital publications. With new publications adopting a more digital-focused and cost-effective model, state and local legislators are revising many of their guidelines around public notices.

The past year has seen the passage of at least nine pieces of legislation directly referencing the lack of newspapers in specific communities, which now allows public notices to be published either on a digital news website or within a newspaper adjacent to or related to the region without a dedicated publication of its own. These laws span across multiple states, including Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, South Dakota, and Texas.

While some may see this loosening of guidelines around public notice publication as a step towards reducing the role newspapers play in community accountability, it is preferable to the move towards removing newspaper publication requirements entirely, as some states have begun passing. 

The main takeaway from this development is that digital news publications can now be seen as equally valid as print newspapers. This is further enforced by the number of states that have moved within the past year to begin developing digital databases exclusively dedicated to public notices. 

As these trends continue, companies like Our-Hometown are developing paths forward to both help legacy papers increase their digital publication capabilities through programs like the Digital Initiative and increase coverage areas to combat news deserts through their Public Meetings tools.

The post How News Deserts Impact Public Notice Legislation first appeared on Our-Hometown.

Some state governments have recently begun attempting to implement new laws to mandate a digital-first publishing policy for public notices. Citing the waning relevance of print media, these institutions argue that digital notice publication would increase the accessibility of this information to the wider public.

Beyond the negative impact this change would have on their financial viability, many newspapers argue that digital-only public information would actually reduce the trustworthiness of this information. With government-controlled public information dissemination, facts can be skewed or omitted that otherwise wouldn’t be if published by an independent institution. Digital records are also much easier to change or outright remove than information that is physically printed and preserved.

This debate has prompted many states to come to a compromise where all records that are required to be published in a Newspaper of Public Record must also be made available on that publication’s website or within a statewide directory of notices. Currently, 20 states have outlined guidelines and requirements for the digital publication of public notices in partnership with newspapers. 

In order to maintain this compromise, it is more vital than ever for newspapers to establish an online presence. A thriving digital news website proves that a publication has the relevance required to justify its designation as a Newspaper of Record and that it is the best possible outlet for disseminating public information. 

Many statewide press associations have taken on a critical role in preserving the connection between public notices and newspapers. Part of their strategy in working with lawmakers to strengthen this connection has been ensuring as many members as possible are publishing digitally. As Betsy Edwards, Executive Director of the Virginia Press Association, explains: “We would not want those legislators to drill too deep and find out that there were a dozen newspapers that were VPA members that didn’t have a website because that kind of like ruins our argument quite honestly.”

Forty-five states, including Virginia, have also created digital repositories of public notices that are linked to each newspaper’s website in the state. , This removes some of the administrative burden of publishing notices online for individual papers while keeping them separated from government institutions. 

While public notices are just one element of a publication’s responsibility and business model, they serve a critical role in maintaining the public utility of each region’s newspaper. Adding digital public and legal notices not only helps to strengthen this connection but also opens these local institutions up to wider visibility and revenue opportunities.

The post The Fight to Save Public Notices Relies on Digital Publishing first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) recently announced it will end its print edition on December 31, 2025, becoming a fully digital publication starting in 2026. That’s a major milestone for Georgia media — but it raises an important question: what does this mean for legal notices and the AJC’s status as a “legal organ”?

Georgia’s Public Notice Rules

Under Georgia Code § 9-13-142, each county must designate a legal organ — the official newspaper that publishes required public notices like foreclosures, tax sales, and probate filings.

To qualify, a paper must:

• Be a printed product, multiple pages in length.
• Publish weekly for at least two years.
• Maintain paid circulation (not free distribution).
• Keep its advertising content under 75% of most issues.

If a paper stops printing, it no longer qualifies. That’s exactly what Fulton County decided in 2023, when its prior legal organ lost standing after going digital-only.

What This Means for the AJC

When the AJC goes digital-only in 2026, it will no longer meet the statutory definition of a legal organ. That means:

• The AJC cannot continue publishing official public notices under current law.
• Counties currently using the AJC will need to designate a new legal organ that still meets print requirements.
• Governments, law firms, and businesses will have to shift their notices elsewhere.

Could the Law Change?

There have been rumblings about modernizing Georgia’s law to allow digital-only newspapers to qualify. Bills in recent years have tweaked fees and circulation standards, but no change has been made yet to allow online-only publications to serve as legal organs.

Unless legislators act, Georgia will remain a print-first state, even as major papers like the AJC move digital.

Bottom Line

The AJC’s move to digital-only is historic, but under current Georgia law it means the paper will lose its ability to run legal notices. For now, public notices in Georgia remain tied to print newspapers — a reminder that while journalism is going digital, the law hasn’t quite caught up.

The post What Happens to Public Notices When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Goes Digital-Only? first appeared on Our-Hometown.

This webinar, hosted by Matt Larson, President and CEO of Our-Hometown Web Publishing, with Betsy Edwards, Executive Director of the Virginia Press Association (VPA), detailed the VPA’s successful Digital Initiative. The initiative aims to bring all Virginia newspapers online with their own websites, driven by the critical need for digital presence for business, public notice compliance, and long-term sustainability. The discussion covered the program’s origins, its three-year financial support model, impressive growth metrics from six initial papers, and the broader implications for the future of local news, including legislative pressures around public notices and the potential for grant funding. Our-Hometown’s full-service platform and partnership model were highlighted as key to the initiative’s success, offering a replicable model for other press associations.

If you are a publisher or representative of a press association and would like more information, please reach out to us at ops@our-hometown.com

The post Our-Hometown & VPA Digital Initiative: A Model for Newspaper Sustainability — Webinar Replay first appeared on Our-Hometown.

Matt Larson, President and CEO of Our-Hometown Web Publishing, met with Betsy Edwards, Executive Director of the Virginia Press Association (VPA), to prepare for an upcoming webinar aimed at other press associations. The discussion covered the planned presentation for the webinar, which will highlight the success of Virginia’s Digital Initiative in getting print newspapers online.

Key topics included the initiative’s results (increased page views and revenue), case studies, Our-Hometown’s turnkey solution, and the critical importance of newspapers having an online presence, particularly in the context of public notices and legislative advocacy. Betsy provided extensive context on the challenges faced by newspapers without websites, the strategic role of statewide public notice platforms, and the legislative efforts to protect public notice revenue in a rapidly digitizing media landscape. The meeting also touched upon the need for timely online news updates and the difficulties in pricing digital advertising and public notices.

Webinar Preparation & Agenda Overview

Matt Larson initiated the discussion by outlining the plan for an upcoming webinar aimed at other press associations. He proposed using a modified version of a previous presentation, emphasizing a free-form discussion format. He noted the current low registration (only Jen Madden from South Carolina) and suggested the initial meeting might be a more intimate conversation between Betsy and him.

Virginia’s Digital Initiative: Goals & Results

Matt detailed the proposed structure for the webinar, starting with introductions and an overview from Betsy on the Virginia Press Association’s (VPA) goals for the program. He would then present Our-Hometown’s results from the initiative, focusing on the six participating papers. The key metric for success would be comparing page views and revenue from the most recent six months against the first six months of their online presence.

Digital Success Stories: Career Record & Rappahannock Times

Matt highlighted specific success stories from the Virginia initiative. The Career Record was identified as a leader in digital revenue and subscribers, while the Rappahannock Times showed significant increases in page views. He suggested that these publishers could potentially join future meetings to share their experiences directly.

Expanding the Initiative: Illinois & Kansas Examples

To demonstrate the broader applicability and proven track record of the digital initiative, Matt introduced examples from other states. He mentioned the Illinois Press Association, which has launched four sites hosting five papers, and the Kansas initiative, featuring the Galena Sentinel Times. This context aims to show that the concept has been successfully implemented elsewhere.

Our-Hometown’s Turnkey Solution & Member Benefits

Matt elaborated on Our-Hometown’s offering, describing it as a “turnkey solution” for press association members. He explained that the initiative provides perpetual discounts for members, regardless of whether the association chooses to fund the websites directly. The presentation would cover essential website features, mention Our-Hometown’s ad network, and outline the simple process for getting started.

The Critical Need for Newspaper Websites

Betsy underscored the urgent problem of many newspapers, particularly in other states, lacking any online presence. She highlighted that some states have “dozens of papers with no websites,” emphasizing the critical need for initiatives like Our-Hometown’s to bring these publications into the digital age.

Public Notices: The Shift to Digital & Atlanta Journal-Constitution Case

Betsy discussed the evolving landscape of public notices, which are traditionally a significant revenue source for print newspapers. She noted that public notices are becoming increasingly important for online news sites as well. A major development cited was the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s decision to go entirely digital by December 31st, signaling a broader trend that necessitates online capabilities for all newspapers.

Virginia’s Public Notice Law & Statewide Website

Betsy explained Virginia’s proactive legislative efforts, specifically a 2019 bill that maintained public notices in newspapers while adding crucial digital requirements. This law mandates that newspapers with websites must advertise public notices from their landing page, ensure they are accessible in front of any paywall, and submit them to the VPA’s statewide public notice website.

The VPA Statewide Public Notice Platform

Betsy provided a detailed overview of the Virginia Press Association’s statewide public notice website, which utilizes a platform developed by the Illinois Press Association. She explained that this platform ensures public notices are available in three places: print, the individual newspaper’s website (in front of a paywall), and the statewide website, which is keyword searchable and free. This comprehensive approach helps counter arguments from legislators about public access to information.

Newspaper Sustainability & Legislative Influence

Betsy passionately argued that newspapers must embrace digital platforms for long-term sustainability. She stressed that without a website, newspapers cannot effectively compete in 2025, reach younger audiences, or maintain credibility with legislators. Being perceived as “stuck in another century” undermines their position, especially when advocating for the retention of public notice revenue.

Countering Legislative Challenges to Public Notices

Betsy recounted how the VPA successfully addressed long-standing complaints from local governments regarding the cost of public notices in print. By implementing the 2019 law that included online posting requirements and the statewide website, the VPA effectively “shut them up” on the issue, countering proposals to move public notices solely to local government websites, which are less accessible and less effective.

Debunking Public Notice Cost Myths

Betsy presented compelling data to debunk the myth that public notices are an exorbitant cost for local governments. Citing a 2016 survey, she showed that for a large city like Virginia Beach, the annual cost of public notices ($70,000) was negligible compared to its $2.6 billion budget, equating to only $0.58 per person. This data reinforces the value and affordability of keeping public notices in newspapers.

The Imperative of Timely Online News Updates

Betsy emphasized the critical need for newspapers, particularly weeklies, to update their news online between print editions. She argued that in today’s fast-paced news cycle, waiting for the next print run means losing out to other media, like TV websites, for breaking news. An online presence allows newspapers to provide immediate updates and remain the go-to source for local information.

Integrating Public Notices with the Digital Initiative

Matt considered the possibility of Our-Hometown assisting states with their public notice websites as part of the digital initiative. Betsy clarified that while many states already have statewide public notice platforms (often using the Illinois model), the more pressing need is to get the “hundreds and hundreds” of small newspapers online and ensure that Our-Hometown’s client papers are properly feeding their public notices into these existing statewide systems.

States with High Numbers of Offline Newspapers

Betsy identified several rural states, including Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Montana, as having a significant number of newspapers that still lack websites. She noted that these small papers, often with only 300-400 readers, mistakenly believe they cannot justify the cost of a website, despite the clear benefits for their survival and relevance.

Competition from Online-Only News Sites & Virginia’s Response

Betsy discussed the growing competition from new online-only, often nonprofit, news websites. She explained that Virginia proactively passed a law allowing these online-only sites to publish public notices, but with strict guardrails. These qualifications include requirements for circuit court audits, proof of local government coverage, and local reporters, preventing unqualified “bloggers” from scooping this revenue.

Strategic Legislative Engagement for Press Associations

Betsy provided insights into effective legislative strategy, emphasizing the importance of press associations working with legislators to draft favorable bills rather than simply opposing unfavorable ones. She highlighted the realities of part-time legislators, “horse-trading,” and the need to educate them on complex issues like public notices, ensuring the industry’s interests are protected.

Protecting Future Revenue: The Online-Only Transition

Betsy cited the example of Tom La Paz, a long-time weekly newspaper owner who transitioned to online-only during COVID and became a proponent of the new Virginia law. This case illustrates the future trend of newspapers moving entirely online, and the legislation ensures that these digital-first publications can retain public notice revenue, protecting the industry’s financial future.

Challenges in Pricing Digital Public Notices

Betsy pointed out a significant challenge: newspapers often struggle to price digital public notices effectively. Accustomed to print-based pricing models (e.g., by size), they tend to drastically undercharge for online notices (e.g., $100 online vs. $300 print). She warned that once a low price is set, it’s difficult to increase it, leading to lost revenue.

Conclusion: The Undeniable Value of Going Digital

Matt and Betsy concluded the discussion by reiterating their shared conviction that there is “no downside” and “only good” in newspapers establishing an online presence. They agreed that while there was once uncertainty, the industry has moved past questioning the necessity of digital, reinforcing the core message and urgency of Our-Hometown’s Digital Initiative.

The post Our-Hometown Digital Initiative: Pre-Webinar Discussion with Virginia Press Association first appeared on Our-Hometown.

One of the most powerful aspects of the Block Editor is the ability to use multiple different types of blocks together to create a more dynamic final product without the need to learn how to code or design pages in photoshop. All of the tools you need are available right in the Block Editor!

Follow along as our host walks the audience through various different ways to format and present text in the Block Editor, as well as how to combine these elements effectively to create more compelling page layouts using Grids, Groups and other container blocks.

As always, this webinar is available to Our-Hometown customers at no cost! Just fill out the form below to register and keep an eye on your email for a link to join the webinar on the morning of June 13th!

The post Block Editor Overview: More Text, Plus Grids and Groups on June 13th, 11AM EST first appeared on Our-Hometown.

One of the most powerful aspects of the Block Editor is the ability to use multiple different types of blocks together to create a more dynamic final product without the need to learn how to code or design pages in photoshop. All of the tools you need are available right in the Block Editor!

Follow along as our host walks the audience through various different ways to format and present text in the Block Editor, as well as how to combine these elements effectively to create more compelling page layouts. Headings, Paragraphs, Buttons, Tables, Drop Caps — you name it, we’ve got you covered!

As always, this webinar is available to Our-Hometown customers at no cost! Just fill out the form below to register and keep an eye on your email for a link to join the webinar on the morning of May 16th!

The post Block Editor Overview: Creative Text Layouts on May 16th, 11AM EST first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The Block Editor makes adding media to your post, page or article easier than ever — whether that is a simple photo, a complete photo gallery, or more advanced Cover Image style block that you can add text on top of.

The Block Editor‘s formatting options allow for complete customization for every image or piece of media you add, including ratios, scaling, background colors, text colors and more!

There is a lot to cover on the topic; so we’d love for you to join us for this Friday’s LIVE WEBINAR. There is no cost to attend! Just fill out the brief form below to register.

The post Block Editor Overview: Media and Images on May 2nd, 11AM EST first appeared on Our-Hometown.

Block Patterns are a pre-arranged set of Blocks saved as a template that you can quickly re-use with the click of a button rather than creating each block individually. Not only can this feature save you a ton of time when creating Articles or Pages, it can also help you to ensure a consistent appearance across all of your content using the same pattern, and opens the door to using more complex and advance patterns made by other designers in the WordPress community.

There is a lot to cover on the topic; so we’d love for you to join us for tomorrow’s LIVE WEBINAR. There is no cost to attend! Just fill out the brief form below to register.

The post Block Editor Overview Part 3: Patterns on April 18th, 11AM EST first appeared on Our-Hometown.