FROM THE PUBLISHER ’ S DESK
Think
Publisher Mar-Vic Cagurangan publisher @ pacificislandtimes . com
Editor-in-Chief Bruce Lloyd editor @ pacificislandtimes . com
To be honest , I had nagging self-doubts when I was conceptualizing this publication project , given that everyone seems to have an opinion on the fate of traditional journalism . Amid the rapid surge of the Internet and the growing influence of the social media , I ’ ve heard it buzzing around : print is dying ; print is dead . Ugh , was this project a fool ’ s errand ?
I ’ m from the brave old world , forever grateful to Gutenberg . I still take pleasure in the texture and smell of ink on paper , a reminder that the stories are real , not a fleeting hashtag or a mere digital simulation of reality .
My generation couldn ’ t have all gone extinct . So I decided I ’ d give it a shot anyway — even just to satisfy my curiosity and test the market . So , in October 2016 , we launched the maiden issue of the Pacific Island Times , in partnership with Palau ’ s Pacific Note , armed with conviction that there is room for independent journalism , bereft of corporate and political influences .
The Pacific Island Times / Pacific Note team is composed of veteran journalists , whose goal is to fill the gap in regional reporting through long-form journalism , thorough research , opinions and news analysis . Our advertising revenues are reinvested into building our print and online content .
Despite the challenges that confront any startup business , we have been gaining more trust from our readers and receiving more support than we expected . Our print and digital subscriptions as well as online readership are growing .
This October issue is a celebration of our milestone . One year !
But those in the business of print publications don ’ t have the luxury of complacence . Common business sense requires us to make a critical examination of our chances at further success and what we may be up against .
Research looks promising ; it shows that the publishing industry is not as bad as initially predicted by doomsayers . On the contrary , the print industry is predicted to see a renaissance . According to
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mediafinder . com stats , new title launches in 2017 nationwide outnumber closures by a wide margin , a big reversal from the situation in 2009 . Statistics from Statista , show the overall number of U . S . magazines is staying fairly steady over the last few years and is significantly higher than it was 10-15 years ago .
Some speculate that the unexpected resurgence of print is triggered by people ’ s need to occasionally delink and shut off from the noise of the online world . “ The more digital our lives become , the more we are looking for balance – and the more we ’ re rediscovering the tactile and tangible benefits of print ,” blogger Louella Fernandez writes .
In a 2012 article , Forbes magazine took a closer look at print media , identified some advantages it has over its digital counterparts and why it should remain an option for advertisers :
Tangibility – A print piece is a physical thing . Magazines and newspapers can stay in houses or offices for months or years , while Internet ads can disappear into cyber space instantaneously .
Credibility – There is something about print that gives a sense of legitimacy . The saturation of popups and banner ads on the web can be overwhelming and the fear of spam and viruses is enough make people weary of clicking .
Branding – Print ads are excellent for solidifying brand identity .
Target Marketing – Placing ads in publications such as specialty magazines can effectively reach niche audiences that may be more difficult to target online .
More Engaging – Consumers are more engaged when reading printed material , unlike websites , which are often skimmed in as little as a 15 second visit . A study shows that people read digital screen text 20 % – 30 % slower than printed paper .
Studies have also shown that readers are more engaged when we ’ re reading printed material , as it demands our full attention . It thus encourages critical reading , which inspires deep thinking — just like we seek to offer .
Associate Editor ( Pacific Note / Palau ) Ongerung Kambes Kesolei okkesolei @ gmail . com
Palau Bureau Chief Bernadette Carreon carreon . bernadette @ gmail . com
Contributing Writers Richard Brooks Zaldy Dandan Jayne Flores Joseph Meyers Diana Mendoza Jonathan Perez Aldwin Fajardo-Ponder Gina Tabonares-Reilly Tim Rock Johanna Salinas Lisa Williams-Lahari Aline Yamashita
Editorial Cartoon Andrea Nicole Grajek
Sales and Marketing Executive Jan SN Furukawa jan @ pacificislandtimes . com *** Pacific Independent News Service LLC Unit M1 MBM Building 2218 Route 16 , Dededo , GU 96929 Telephone : 671-300-4210 ; Fax : ( 670 ) 9294211 Email : PacificIslandTimes @ gmail . com Website : www . pacificislandtimes . com
P . O . Box 1880 Koror , Palau 96940 Telephone 680-7794304
The Pacific Island Times is published monthly and circulated in Guam and Palau by the Pacific Independent News Service LLC . Editorial and advertising submissions become property of the Pacific Island Times and cannot be lifted without consent of the publisher . Views and opinions from contributors do not necessarily represent the editorial position of the Pacific Island Times .