Change has been a constant throughout the Concord Monitor’s 160-plus-year history. This summer, we’ll complete our latest move by shifting home delivery of the paper entirely to the U.S. mail.
It’s not a change we take lightly, but one that we feel is important to get the news to our readers.
Among our biggest challenges in recent years has been consistently delivering the newspaper. While many carriers have done exceptional work, the system as a whole has become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain – a challenge facing newspapers across the country as the pool of available drivers has shrunk and costs have risen. Missed and late deliveries have been our single most common reader complaint, and that’s not acceptable to us. Our goal is simple: When you subscribe and support our local journalism, you should be able to count on receiving it.
About half of our readers already receive their paper via U.S. mail, and it has provided a more consistent and dependable experience. We believe this change will significantly improve the print edition’s reliability for the vast majority of our readers while making it more sustainable for the future.
We know this represents a change, especially for readers who are accustomed to receiving the paper early in the morning. With mail delivery, your newspaper will arrive later in the day. We understand that’s a real tradeoff – but we feel it’s the right one if it means you can count on your paper arriving every day.
For those who want to access our content earlier in the day, you have some great options – all of them free to you as a print subscriber. Our website, newsletters and app give you access to the news faster than ever, often with additional content available only online, such as interactive infographics, photo galleries and documents that give you deeper insight into the news and our reporting. We’ve heard from readers who turn to the e-paper (a digital replica of the printed newspaper) in the morning and then sit down with the print paper later in the day when it lands in their mailbox.
We recognize that some readers may need assistance accessing our content online, and we’re here to help in any way we can. During this transition period, we’ll publish information on how to add free digital access to your print subscription and detail the steps needed to read the e-paper on your computer, tablet or smartphone. In addition, our customer relations team is available at 603-224-4287 and circulation@cmonitor.com to guide you through the process and help you decide what’s best for you.
We’ll continue to listen closely to your feedback. Your support — through subscriptions, news tips, letters, conversations and donations — makes our work possible.
Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting local news.
Steve Leone
Publisher
Reader FAQs
When will this change to mail delivery take effect?
In some areas, this change has already taken place. We’ll be moving the rest of our home delivery routes to mail by this summer. We’ll continue to provide updates in print and online as we get closer to an official date.
How will my newspaper be delivered?
Your newspaper will arrive through the U.S. Postal Service. It’ll arrive with the rest of your daily mail Monday through Saturday.
Will the content of the newspaper change?
No. Our newsroom, coverage and commitment to local journalism remain the same. This change only affects how the newspaper is delivered.
What if my paper arrives later than I’m used to?
We understand that this may be an adjustment, especially if you’ve received the paper early in the mornings. To stay up to date, you can access all of our journalism as soon as it’s published on our website, our mobile app and in our e-paper (a digital replica of the newspaper).
What’s the e-paper?
The e-paper, also known as the e-edition, is a digital replica of the printed newspaper that you can read on your phone, tablet or computer. It includes the full layout of the paper and is available early each day. It also includes audio files of some written stories, an archive that will soon extend to 2012 and an ability to print puzzles on your home printer.
Will my subscription price change?
There are no changes to your home delivery subscription price at this time, other than our previously announced annual increase.
What if I don’t receive my paper?
If your newspaper doesn’t arrive with your mail delivery, please contact our customer relations team at 603-224-4287 or circulation@cmonitor.com
Is this change permanent?
Yes. This is a long-term change designed to provide more reliable delivery, keep our costs manageable and support the future of local journalism.
How does this help the newspaper?
This change allows us to focus more resources on what matters most — producing strong, independent local journalism for our community.
Can I switch to digital-only?
Of course. We offer digital subscription options that provide full access to our website, app and e-edition.
Is there any way to get the paper in the morning?
Yes, we’ll still be selling individual papers at markets, gas stations and other stores across Central New Hampshire.
