KUCHING: Every news outlet must develop its own strategies and adapt to remain sustainable and relevant in the digital era. Johardy Ibrahim, editor of DagangNews.com, expressed his opinion on the relaunch of theSun print edition, acknowledging that it was a challenging decision.
However, he believes that the financial strength of Berjaya Group, which supports the publication, may contribute to its success.
Johardy highlighted that theSun has primarily focused on the Klang Valley market, where it has established a loyal following over the years.
He mentioned that the previous distribution of theSun’s print edition was free, and the reaction to the new RM1 per copy price remains to be seen.
Although the price is relatively low compared to other mainstream newspapers, he emphasised that it might not be the determining factor for success, especially in the digital age.
Holding a newspaper in public is no longer considered trendy for young people.
As a journalist born in Sarawak with over 30 years of experience, Johardy acknowledged the undeniable rise of online news consumption. Nonetheless, he believes that print newspapers still offer certain advantages. Some people still enjoy seeing their faces or stories in print and may even frame a copy for display.
However, he pointed out that newspapers can take up a significant amount of space in one’s home or office.
Johardy acknowledged that many journalists have considered print newspapers to be a declining industry, making theSun’s decision to relaunch its print edition a courageous move.
He believes that with the strong corporate support of Berjaya Group, the publication will have a more manageable task in generating media sales.
While having a print edition is challenging, as long as the digital side is not neglected, theSun can thrive in journalism.
Meanwhile, Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican described theSun’s relaunch of its print edition as a bold and appropriate decision.
As a professor of social and intellectual history at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), he stated that theSun understands its market and readership, making the reintroduction of a print edition a relevant choice.
According to Ahmad Murad, print periodicals and journalism are still essential for the foreseeable future, just like print books and e-books. He believes it is difficult to determine the overall impact of theSun’s print edition relaunch on the newspaper industry, but it serves as a reminder of the profitability of print.
He also emphasised the presence of a market for news outlets that offer print editions at a low price point of RM1. He suggested that print journalism needs rebranding to expand beyond news, opinion, and commentary, focusing on authoritative journalism that provides ideas, opinions, and factual information.
Despite the growth of online news consumption, print newspapers still offer authoritative news and the experience of delayed gratification. For the record, theSun has relaunched with a 32-page publication, featuring a fresh identity and a new tagline, “Malaysian Paper.”
With this relaunch, theSun aims to engage the younger generation of readers with fresh content and a modernised approach.
According to the editorial director, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, the decision to transition from a free newspaper model to a paid one comes after the company’s pioneering role in revolutionising the industry since the 1990s.
He expressed that although the free distribution had allowed theSun to reach a readership of nearly a million daily with a circulation of 300,000 copies per day, the time has come for a change.
The relaunch event took place at Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort last Wednesday.
