Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 2, The Selma Times-Journal will change print publication days to Tuesday through Saturday, no longer producing a Sunday printed edition, and will also partner with the U.S. Postal Service for delivery of its newspaper to subscribers. Newspapers will continue to be available for purchase from and through the newspaper’s many vending machines and partner businesses.

The change to Tuesday through Saturday in print and mail delivery is primarily driven by two factors: the rapidly rising cost of newsprint, and the increased cost of distribution through contracted news carriers.

“Due to tariffs on Canadian newsprint, which supplies the vast majority of paper used in the printing of community newspapers in the United States, the cost of the basic raw material we use to print a newspaper has increased nearly 30 percent in the past year,” said Times-Journal Publisher Dennis Palmer. “Even with the overturn of the tariffs this week, the effects of that repeal will not be automatic.  We had two choices. We could substantially raise the price we charge subscribers, or we could reduce frequency. We felt given the economic environment of the community we serve, we felt a reduction in frequency was the most viable option to allow us to continue to publish a newspaper that kept our community well informed, and allow a conduit for local businesses to draw consumers to their stores.”

Palmer said subscription prices will remain the same, and by partnering with the Postal Service, it allowed delivery savings that would also be used to keep the newspaper positioned to serve its community in printed form.

“Mail carriers are already driving by the homes of the people who subscribe to the newspaper, thus it made sense to partner with the Postal Service in delivery of the newspaper,” Palmer said. “We know it will mean a change in when people receive their Times-Journal each day, and it will take some adjustment, but it will also hopefully cut down on missed deliveries and other issues associated with delivery through our contracted news carriers.”

Subscribers will still receive their newspaper through the Postal Service the day it is printed, but will not receive an edition on days the Postal Service observes as holidays. Many postal holidays are on Monday, which is a day the newspaper does not have a print edition. Other holidays the newspaper will not print on are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

“Once the change takes place Oct. 2, our Saturday edition will be our weekend edition, and will contain all the same pre-printed inserts our Sunday edition had, along with our Life & Style section and our color comics,” Palmer said.

Palmer emphasized a reduction in frequency, and other cost saving measures the newspaper will implement, is not unique in the industry as newspapers large and small are finding ways to cope with rising costs and changing reader habits.

“Over the last decade particularly, many newspaper readers have migrated from print newspapers to newspaper websites as their primary source for local news,” Palmer said. “The Selma Times-Journal is fortunate because we continue to have a healthy print newspaper audience, but we also recognize habits of some readers have changed. We recently launched an e-edition, or digital replica, of The Times-Journal as we recognize some readers prefer to read their newspaper on their computer or tablet. The move to reduce print frequency, change to mail delivery, launch an e-edition and further focus on development of our digital media better positions us to continue to serve the people of Dallas, Wilcox and Perry Counties with news and information in the form or on the device they wish to read it, for many years to come.”

Readers with questions about the changes are encouraged to call (334) 875-2110, or email dennis.palmer@selmatimesjournal.com.