Some readers will miss print version, others ready to embrace digital-only TODAY

SINGAPORE — Readers have expressed surprise and sadness at news that the TODAY newspaper will discontinue its print edition from the end of September.

Most, however, also felt that the move was inevitable, given the changing patterns of news consumption.

On Friday (Aug 25), Mediacorp announced that TODAY, Singapore’s second most-read newspaper will be going fully digital after discontinuing its print edition from the end of September, putting an end to its print run of 17 years.

Some readers lamented the end their “early-morning staple”.

Ms Nataie Ang, 37, said she would “grab a copy from the MRT station” to read in the train, on her way to work every day.

Calling it a “sad end”, Mr Hairol Salim, 32 said: “Print newspaper readers (like myself) still need options on how they consume their news every morning.”

However, some readers, such as Ms Amelia Wee, noted that the move towards becoming a digital-only news outlet is the next logical step, given the paper’s digital transition in the past year, which included the introduction of a revamped weekend edition in April.

“Most of my peers and I usually get our news online, or through social media, and I think that’s probably the way forward,” said the 22-year-old student.

Agreeing, Ms Olivia Poh told TODAY that she had “moved from reading the print newspaper, to reading it from my phone”, partly because she no longer receives a copy of the paper at her house.

The 35-year-old civil servant added that “it is more convenient to read off my phone while on the go”.

While the move towards a fully digital newspaper may be a growing trend in the world, some readers felt that it can never replace the print version.

Mr Firdaus Hashim, 28, said: “Reading news digitally has its benefits, but it can never capture the same amount of attention as reading from a physical copy.”

Older readers whom TODAY spoke to were worried that, without a print edition, they would not be able to catch up on the news easily.

Ms Christine Lim, 56, said the move to a digital-only paper might pose a challenge for those who are “not so savvy in technology like myself”.

Concurring, Mr Francis Teoh, 61, added: “I don’t have Facebook, and I don’t own a smartphone. It’s not going to be that easy to get news from TODAY now.”

TODAY’s move to an all-digital product is part of a wide-ranging deal between Mediacorp and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which was announced on Friday.

The deal will involve Mediacorp buying SPH’s minority stakes in Mediacorp Press, which operates the TODAY newspaper. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

Mediacorp said in a separate statement: “With full ownership and control of Mediacorp Press, Mediacorp will restructure the TODAY business to better face the new digital-first media landscape.”

The move to discontinue TODAY’s print operations will see about 40 staff being made redundant.