• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, June 18, 2024

The Miami Herald has debuted Edition, a digital news platform. 

It is not the first McClatchy publication to try this – The Tacoma News Tribune and The Olympian have moved to a digital-first format. But the Herald covers a high-profile city with news breaking at all times. 

Starting on Tuesday, Edition was available online at miamiherald.com and the Miami Herald app.

“This platform reinvents digital news, delivering all the features you cherish about the printed edition directly to your smartphone, tablet or computer,” writes executive editor Alex Mena. “From Local, Nation, World and Sports to Tropical Sunday and Opinion, you’ll find all of your favorite newspaper sections in Edition – just as if you were holding the paper in your hands.”  

Mena continues, “Stories will feature links to articles offering deeper insights into the Miami Herald’s extensive coverage. You can tap on photos for an enhanced view, dive into photo galleries and watch videos seamlessly.”

The New York Times has led the industry in digital adoption, and the numbers prove it. The Times added roughly 300,000 net digital-only subscribers in the third quarter of 2023, mostly bundle and multi-product subscribers. 

And they are paying. As previously reported, the average revenue for digital-only users grew by 3.5% YoY to $9.24 during that period. This was mostly due to subscribers graduating from promotional to higher prices, along with increases for tenured non-bundled subscribers.   

McClatchy clearly is thinking along similar lines. The Centre Daily Times, a McClatchy paper serving State College, Pennsylvania, reduced its print schedule to two days per week while transitioning to a 24/7 digital product called...Edition.

That switch is “a vital step toward the sustainability of the Centre Daily Times, which, at 126 years old, is one of Centre County’s oldest institutions,” the newspaper wrote.

Meanwhile, Miami Herald print subscribers can activate the local Edition and access it in a couple of ways – via a link on the homepage or through the daily email newsletter. 

“You can tap on photos for an enhanced view, dive into photo galleries and watch videos seamlessly,” Mena continues. “Of course, our popular games will be included, and you can still print them.” 

Mena concludes, “I know you will enjoy the new interactive experience and look forward to hearing your suggestions.”