Iowa's college-based newspapers adapt to digital readers

Last edited Thu Feb 9, 2017, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Student-run college newspapers across Iowa are feeling familiar newspaper industry trend repercussions, reporting fewer print readers but increased online readership as young readers increasingly get their news from digital sources.

“I honestly don’t think any students on our campus read our newspaper, especially the physical copy,” said Ashley Smith, senior editor in chief at the Simpsonian at Simpson College in Indianola.

“We distribute every Thursday, and I will come around the next Thursday and about the same size stack of papers will be sitting there. If I do see someone reading it, I actually get really excited.”

College newspaper staff members, students and faculty advisers have seen these shifts in recent years:

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2017/02/09/iowa-college-based-newspapers-adapt-digital-readers/97562826/

[font color=330099]It's odd that the students do not read the print edition of their college newspapers. I spent a small amount of time as a layout editor, caption writer and delivery person for my college newspaper and virtually every week that I delivered the newspapers all editions were taken by the students. I delivered the newspapers to the dorms, chapel, athletic center, library, student union building, administration building, and all classroom buildings.

I do understand the trend to move towards electronic distribution, but I found it relaxing to have the entire newspaper at hand to keep informed about events and read the opinions of students that submitted letters and articles.[/font]