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The Arkells are giving away free t-shirts to people who subscribe to newspapers

They're hoping to help local news media
Bob Kronbauer
Bob Kronbauer
arkells-newspaper-subscription
Photo ArkellsMusic.com

Popular Canadian rock band The Arkells have made a surprising announcement.

They're giving away free t-shirts to anyone who takes out an annual subscription to "a local paper or a daily publication."

The only catch is that you can't be an existing subscriber.

Their goal appears to be to change minds about paywalls by offering people - presumably young people - an incentive to take out subscriptions and prop up the segment of the news media who haven't quite figured out how to keep the lights on.

They've outlined the initiative on their website, noting that their New Year's resolution was to "invest in the things that truly matter", encouraging their fans to join them.

The band's full statement is below.

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If you’re an engaged member of your community, you’re probably thankful for the people who report the news. And even if you’re not, you’re probably still reassured to know that someone is keeping tabs.

Good reporting not only keeps us in the loop, but also makes sure our big wigs are held accountable — to ensure there is no sneaky biz.

Somewhere along the way, we took this for granted. We forgot that we have to pay for this vital service, and that reporting the news isn’t free. In our own city we’ve seen our local newspaper continue to shrink, and we worry about its future and the future of other local newspapers.

But 2020 is here, and our New Years resolution is to invest in the things that truly matter. Join us.

Let’s start by supporting your local paper or a daily publication you really admire. It’s been years in the making. No more running from that paywall.

Here’s the scoop: get a year-long paid subscription to a journalistic institution of your choice - you know, the one where you’re always running out of free articles - and we’ll gift you this custom shop tee designed by our very own Mike D. If you already have a subscription, gift a fresh one to someone in your life who could use it.

Subscribe + Show us what you’re reading + Fill this out = new swag on the way.