Dispatch announces change in print delivery frequency
Responding to continued rapid shifts toward digital news consumption, The Columbus Dispatch announced a change Wednesday in print delivery frequency beginning March 26.
The Dispatch will cease home delivery on Saturdays, but instead will provide subscribers with a full digital replica of the newspaper that day, filled with local news, advertising and features such as comics and puzzles. The new model means subscribers will get newspapers delivered to their home six days a week, with a digital newspaper available every day.
“We are committed to covering local news in Greater Columbus, and that won’t change,” said Interim Editor Kelly Lecker. "More and more, readers are looking for our up-to-the-minute coverage on a variety of platforms, including Dispatch.com, the mobile app, and on social media. Our print newspaper remains a vital tool to deliver news, but we are making a change in response to reader and advertising trends.”
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The Saturday digital replica, or e-Edition, will have the same look and news as the printed newspaper. The digital format also has some additional features, such as the ability to clip and share articles with friends and family and adjust the text size.
In addition, subscribers of The Dispatch will now have access to the USA TODAY Network’s full suite of e-Editions across the country, as well as ad-free access to the USA TODAY Crossword puzzle.
The Dispatch is part of the USA TODAY Network, and the change being announced today also is taking place at numerous other publications in the network.
All print subscribers of The Dispatch have full digital access, meaning they have the ability to read news updates throughout the day, subscriber-only stories, and video and audio features, among other benefits. Subscribers also have 24/7 access to obituaries, legal notices and classifieds on our website.
Why subscribe? 7 online features you get with your Columbus Dispatch subscription
News and sales staffing at The Dispatch will not change as a result of this. However, those staffs will be even better-aligned toward digital news delivery.
Print delivery times for the other days of the week will remain unchanged.
“Columbus has a thriving business climate, and we are a vital part of the media landscape in Ohio. We have a rich history of the Dispatch for 150 years,” said Eugene Jackson, market leader and vice president of sales for Ohio. “We serve the community with important local journalism and now, more than ever, we are relying on support from subscribers and advertisers. We will keep our loyal subscribers at the forefront as we continue to evolve our digital and print strategies.”
Anyone with questions about the change can access their account at Dispatch.com or call customer service at 877-734-7728.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch changes print paper delivery frequency
