Columbia Daily Tribune making change to print delivery schedule starting in July

From the editor: Columbia Daily Tribune print frequency change is on hold; daily delivery to continue

In response to readers' ongoing shifts to digital news consumption, the Columbia Daily Tribune this July will change the number of days per week it publishes a print edition while continuing to publish an e-Edition every day.

Starting the week of July 3, print editions will be published and delivered on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The other days of the week, the Tribune will produce an e-Edition, a digital replica of the paper, which is available to subscribers via its website or one of its mobile apps.

Managing Editor Kevin Graeler emphasized the Tribune will continue to cover the news of mid-Missouri every day, delivered via the columbiatribune.com website, mobile apps and email newsletters.

The Tribune, owned by Gannett and part of the USA Today Network, has served Columbia for over a century. This change will better meet the evolving habits of the community as more readers engage with the Tribune's content online, Graeler said, while continuing the traditional printed product three days a week.

More: Learn how to use the Columbia Daily Tribune e-Edition

“This decision is a response to monumental shifts in how people are consuming news,” he said. “We champion the importance of local news and are embracing its digital future. Our devoted newsroom team — all of whom are proud to call this area home — will keep serving our community by providing the news, sports and events information that Columbia values.”

Subscription rates will be reduced for a majority of impacted home-delivery customers. Details will be available in a letter arriving in early June.

“We recognize and appreciate the deep loyalty our longtime print subscribers have to the Tribune," Graeler said. "Our print newspaper remains an important part of our business strategy as we respond to rapidly changing reader habits.”

At the same time, the news staff is stepping up its focus on more robust digital offerings, Graeler said.

Already, the Tribune’s Daily Briefing newsletter arrives each morning to readers’ email inbox with the top headlines to start the day and a link to access the e-Edition. Its Tiger Extra newsletter serves as a headquarters of Missouri Tigers athletics coverage. And new this summer will be a newsletter called Your Week, a weekly email highlighting the biggest stories of the week and what’s ahead that matters most to readers.

Graeler encouraged mid-Missourians to download the Tribune's mobile apps, which provide an easy way to access stories from a tablet or smartphone. The app offers personalized news alerts and the ability to swipe and scroll through stories faster and bookmark them to save and read later.

He also encouraged readers to become digital subscribers of the Tribune, which allows access to subscriber-only stories, video and audio. Digital subscriptions are available for an introductory offer of $1 for six months.

All Tribune print subscribers receive full access to all digital content. And all subscribers, whether digital-only or also receiving home delivery, have around-the-clock access to obituaries, legal notices and classifieds on the Tribune's website.

As part of this transition, the Tribune has made several upgrades to its daily e-Edition, available early each morning, which lets readers start their day with a page-to-page view of an electronic replica of the paper. Subscribers can read and browse sections; clip and share articles with friends and family; adjust the text size; and access previous editions published within the last 30 days.

More: Five benefits of Columbia Daily Tribune digital subscriptions

Among the new benefits: Subscribers now get universal access to hundreds of e-Editions throughout the USA Today Network in cities across the country, daily Nation & World and Sports Extra sections, as well as ad-free, 24/7 access to the USA Today Crossword puzzle.

The change in print frequency shows the Tribune’s commitment to a sustainable future, said Amos Bridges, Gannett state editor for Missouri.

“Our business — like many others — is adapting to a competitive digital world,” Bridges said. “As readers’ habits shift, we too must change the way we deliver the news while continuing the Tribune’s proud tradition of serving the community and its subscribers, both online and in print.”

Allen Jones, who oversees advertising for the Tribune, said his sales team looks forward to continue serving mid-Missouri advertisers through print and digital opportunities.

"We’re confident this change will allow the Tribune news staff to continue to provide quality, reliable coverage for subscribers in our print and digital publications, and it will allow our sales executives to provide marketing and advertising solutions that help businesses grow their customer base," Jones said.

The final publication dates for the Tribune’s Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday print editions will be Monday, June 27; Tuesday, June 28; Thursday, June 30; and Saturday, July 2.

No staff reductions are planned as part of this transition. The news and sales staffs will continue their work, with a greater digital focus.

The decision also does not impact the operation of the Tribune Publishing Co. facility. The press will continue to print the Tribune three days per week in addition to printing publications for an increasing number of clients, including the New York Times, USA Today, Springfield News-Leader and 56 other papers from around Missouri and neighboring states.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Tribune will change newspaper print delivery schedule starting in July