Churches trim costs with online publications

As mainstream newspapers in major American cities continue to announce layoffs, bankruptcies and even closure, Southern Baptists in Utah and Idaho will have to look for news about their denomination's regional activities online.

Church officials announced in a recent letter that they will cease publication of the faith's regional newspaper.

The Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Witness is a tabloid-sized paper, which has about 1,300 subscribers and publishes ten issues annually. It has apparently failed to attract enough subscribers in recent years to make it viable.

"There have been numerous approaches to try to increase the number of subscriptions and make it cost-effective over the years," according to the text of a letter from the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention dated Feb. 23, announcing that the publication will cease its print distribution.

The letter says the convention's executive board approved discontinuing the printed paper in the "past year" and is now looking "at alternative ways to communicate the stories of our churches and associations and state convention." Signed by Rob Lee, executive director/treasurer of the UISCB, the letter said the convention's staff is "working on a new convention Web site … to help in communicating our stories and resources to you."

The convention does have a Web site, but no specific "news" tab has yet been created.

The letter says the "vast majority" of information in the regional publication can be read in the online version of the nationwide Baptist Press, and local officials are "hoping to have an e-mail version sharing the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention story with you." Readers are also directed to two Facebook group pages related to the state convention.

The letter also said officials realize some subscribers don't have Internet access and they will work on other ways to communicate with them, then offers to refund subscription fees paid by individuals or their churches.

Phone messages seeking comment from Lee had not been returned at press time.

As with the mainstream newspaper industry, some denominational newspapers are under increasing financial pressure as paid advertising dwindles while printing and distribution costs rise. Earlier this year, the Postal Service — which delivers most denominational publications — announced it was considering a move to cut delivery back to five days per week as the economic downturn cuts its revenues.