FF -- you probably have a much better view of this than I do and certainly more experience, just doesn't seem reasonable that the local paper would tell readers, "In the next couple of weeks, all website visitors will need to create an account and sign in to get free access to the website; in June, the subscription requirement will kick in" (emphasis added) if it was trying to capitalize on increased readership based on the murders.
Why wait almost 2 months to insist people pay to read the paper online? Why make access so inexpensive?
Just speculating here, and I know you are, too; but I'm chalking this one up to coincidence.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming ... :truce:
Not so fast Curie-us.. There was another motive mentioned; 'to silence the news of the horrific Dermond murders & lack of an arrest, POI, or suspect?
Imo, this is the likely motive. During the Meredith Emerson abduction/murder/decapitation, I posted a comment in the Dawson Advertiser on the opinion page. A gentleman called me(Real Estate Broker) and told me to cease commenting about the case. As a US veteran my reply was something like this; j#jdpo9wjwnd7wjh#uuds3h, and don't you ever call my number again! It wasn't but just a few hours til a caravan of DCSO vehicles pulled up in my driveway in an attempt to silence my voice.. They simply wanted it to go away... JMO