Effective next week, the Tyler Paper is shifting its Monday print publication to digital only. The company will continue to provide round-the-clock comprehensive local and regional coverage through its electronic platforms.
An electronic replica of the entire newspaper, or e-edition — from the front page through the classifieds — will continue to be available to subscribers each Monday and every day at tylerpaper.com/eedition and via its recently launched news app. The company said it planned to add pages to the Monday e-edition and enhance print editions on other days.
The move is being billed as “Mobile Monday,” a reference to the fact a majority of subscribers access the newspaper’s digital delivery platforms via mobile devices. All print subscriptions include unlimited digital access to the Tyler Paper, which includes access to the e-edition and tylerpaper.com.
“We are not stopping the delivery of news on Mondays,” said Stephen N. McHaney, president of M. Roberts Media, the Tyler Paper’s parent company. “We are simply changing the way that news makes it into the hands of our loyal readers. What doesn’t change is our commitment to our readers, advertisers and East Texas.”
The move lines up with the company’s strategy of providing digital delivery of the most comprehensive local news available on multiple platforms, he said. But it was accelerated by the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on all businesses.
McHaney said the Tyler Paper has seen a major surge in traffic to its website and growth in both print and digital subscriptions during the pandemic, but it’s not enough to offset the declines in business. Also, he said, the majority of the company’s advertisers prefer their Monday advertising to appear in its digital products.
“The Tyler Paper is working to ensure its staff, from those who gather the news and advertising to those who put the printed paper on readers’ driveways, can continue to do their jobs,” McHaney said. “Providing news and information with honesty and integrity, especially at this crucial time, is our company’s main goal. These moves aim to allow us to do that.”
Mobile Monday is being launched in conjunction with the newspaper’s recently released mobile app. It’s available in the Android and Apple app stores by searching for Tyler Morning Telegraph.
“As the most trusted and complete source of local news, we felt it was important to add to our lineup of products,” McHaney said. “This most recent addition is aimed at keeping readers up to speed on the news in our region.”
For the Tyler Morning Telegraph print edition readers, the Tuesday newspaper will have a full page of five extra games and the Monday crossword puzzle as well as extra Dear Annie and Dr. Roach. The Saturday crossword answers will be in the Tuesday edition along with Today in History, Hints from Heloise and the extra Daily Horoscope.
The mobile app offers push notifications, which alert readers to breaking news.
“When breaking news happens, you’ll get a notification, much like a text message,” said Bret Jacomet, head of M. Roberts Digital, the digital agency responsible for the app’s development. “Opening that notification will take you directly to the information.”
The app also delivers content found in the print and digital editions, and often more in-depth and timely coverage of news of interest to the community, he said.
In addition to additional news pages in the e-edition, Mobile Monday will offer interactive content not found most other days. That will include polls, contests and other content aimed at encouraging readers to engage with the Tyler Paper.
To make full use of the app, readers must have an active digital account log in, said Tim Miller, director of circulation and customer service. Current subscribers who haven’t activated their digital access can do so directly from the app or website.
“All that’s needed is the email address associated with your account and a password you create,” Miller said. “New users can also subscribe right from the app on your phone.”
Anyone needing help with digital access may call the Tyler Paper’s customer service department at (903) 597-1121 for assistance.