The Aiken Standard is making changes to its distribution and printing.
Beginning in March, the Aiken Standard will reduce its home delivery from seven days to five days per week. The Monday print edition will be eliminated, and a weekend edition will be delivered to print subscribers on Saturdays. The weekend edition will include all of the content readers now enjoy with their current Sunday edition, including feature sections, comics, Home Hunter and advertising inserts.
Also, effective March 1, the Aiken Standard will be printed in North Charleston. The newspaper’s parent company, Evening Post Publishing Inc., recently completed installation of a new press.
Publisher RJ Benner, in a letter to subscribers, said the changes reflect a shift in reader behavior with news and information being more accessible than ever on digital platforms.
“We are as passionate as ever about journalism, and our community, so we will still produce and distribute the e-edition on Sundays and Mondays, as well as post our stories online and across our social media footprint on those days,” Benner wrote.
In addition to producing an e-edition of the newspaper for Sundays and Mondays, the newspaper’s website, www.aikenstandard.com, will be updated throughout the weekend with coverage of live events and breaking news. The newspaper’s social media channels also will be regularly updated.
“Our core mission, which is to cover Aiken County, won’t change,” Executive Editor John Boyette said. “We are the trusted local source for news and information for our readers.”
To help readers get familiar with the e-edition, customer service representatives will be available to assist. There also will be a session on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. at the newspaper offices, at 326 Rutland Drive, for those who want to learn more. Customers are asked to bring in their smart phone, tablet or laptop.
For questions, contact the Aiken Standard at support@aikenstandard.com.