Newspaper Printers' Positive Progress

While many of GRAPH EXPO’s seminars focus on how print service providers should be ramping up their digital products and presence online, one presentation focused on the importance of physical printing. The “Reinforcing Print in a Time of Transition” seminar brought together a panel of newspaper industry professionals whose organizations have led the way in adopting new technologies in order to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world.

Moderated by News & Tech Editor-In-Chief Chuck Moozakis, the conference attracted more than 100 newspaper printers and publishers who were eager to hear some positive print-industry news.

Lou Tazioli, president of Tribune Direct, discussed his company’s successful use of digital press technology for its newspapers and direct mailing operations.

Sally Pirri, director of production at The Globe & Mail in Toronto, demonstrated how a recent redesign of The Globe Life’s physical publication lead to a 30% increase in revenues over the last year. A combination of heatset, coldest, and UV presses helped ramp up the quality of their printed product and readers responded positively.

Gary Hall, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s director of commercial print and delivery, explained how spending money up front can help reduce costs down the line. By adding UV curing equipment to their doublewide press, the paper’s production costs have dropped and quality has increased.

From cutting costs and adding capabilities to attracting new advertisers and readers, newspaper printers and publishers who attended the seminar left with many examples of how the worlds of print and digital production can effectively coexist.