The Indiana Daily Student will begin publishing a print paper again this fall, once a week, beginning on Aug. 20. The decision to go from a twice-per-week publication to once-per-week was made after careful consideration of data and a survey of local businesses.
“The IDS has long ago made the move to a digital-first mindset and, as such, continues to experience a significant growth in its online audience and products,” Student Media Director Jim Rodenbush said.
The IDS suspended the print newspaper in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past four months, the staff saw an increase in online, email and social media traffic, providing an easier transition to publishing once per week.
Since the print publication was suspended, IDS online traffic increased by over 60%, with 50% more page views on the website.
The staff will continue to look for new digital platforms to engage with the community, but wanted to keep a consistent print product for readers that prefer newsprint. This decision also gives staff members an opportunity to learn print design and showcase their best work.
Fall 2020 Editor-in-Chief Jacob deCastro said the weekly edition will offer space for new content, such as the Black Voices section.
“Since we shifted from a daily to a twice-weekly paper, we’ve struggled with what belongs in that paper,” deCastro said. “With our new weekly format, we can highlight the best of the best stories for the week.”
Readers can continue to access the digital edition at https://issuu.com/idsnews.
