From the editor: In our digital world, it still feels good to pick up a newspaper

As long as I’ve been an editor, we’ve been navigating the unchartered waters of the digital revolution.

In the early days of the internet, life was much simpler. When the next day’s print edition was safely put to bed and rolling off the presses, a lone "online editor" would post the stories on our website and call it good. We treated our website like the print edition, updating it once a day.

Now we publish news and information in real time on multiple platforms, even sending alerts straight to your phone. It has been both daunting and thrilling to take part in this age of innovation.

To stay ahead of our audience’s migration to digital, we were forced to evolve. Our new reality requires web developers, experts in analytics and search-engine optimization and video producers − to name a few jobs that are now staples of the newsroom.

If I’m brutally honest, the print edition often took a back seat as we dealt with the digital disruption. Making matters worse, printing plant consolidations − a necessary evil as the economics of our business changed − resulted in earlier deadlines, officially ending print’s reign as a viable platform for late-breaking news. But it’s not dead yet.

I’m excited to announce that on May 19, Enquirer readers will see a revamped Sunday newspaper, one that leverages the strengths of print and shows we’re not afraid to be innovative in that space, too. What can you expect?

The first thing you’ll notice is an emphasis on bold, elegant page design that showcases our best work. While digital platforms are well suited for the fluid nature of breaking news, print remains a compelling canvas for meatier enterprise reporting − especially on Sundays, when many of our readers have a chance to disconnect from their devices and enjoy the paper with a cup of coffee.

Our Sunday edition also will feature a new-look local history page; a page we’re calling "Inspiration" that spotlights people with uplifting stories; a roundup of news briefs from across the Tristate leading into our regional coverage; and other anchored destination pages with stories you’ll only find in The Enquirer. We’re also adding a new section called "Weekend Exclusive," bringing back travel features, health and science news, and some of the classic Sunday content we’ve lost over the years.

One important aspect of our new-look Sunday newspaper will be a more integrated experience with our digital platforms. Most of our in-depth reporting online includes video and other so-called rich media content. To make it easier for print readers to find that content online, we will include QR codes with those stories − one quick scan with your smartphone and you’re watching the video or seeing addition photos.

These enhancements have been months in the making, and we’ll continue to make improvements based on reader feedback. So why this investment in print?

First and foremost, we know how important the Sunday print edition is to many of our readers. It was time to rethink our approach to the biggest home delivery day of the week with the same innovative zeal we use in the digital space. But this isn’t about extending the life of soon-to-be relic.

The traditional, ink-on-paper edition of The Enquirer stands on its own merits. Ken Paulson, the editor of USA TODAY in the early 2000s, explained it like this:

Imagine if Gutenberg had invented a digital modem rather than a printing press, and that for centuries all of our information had come to us online.Further, imagine if we held a press conference announcing the invention of an intriguing new product called the “newspaper.” That press conference might go something like this:

“We’re pleased to announce a new product that will revolutionize the way you access information. … Just consider the hours you’ve spent on the internet looking for information of interest to you. We’ve hired specialists who live and work in your hometown to cull information sources and provide a daily report tailored to your community, your friends and your neighbors.

"It’s also the most portable product in the world, and doesn’t require batteries or electricity. … And when the flight attendant tells you to turn off your electronic devices, you can actually turn this on, opening page after page without worrying about interfering with the plane’s radar.”

Yes, Paulson’s alternative history brings a chuckle, but his point is well-taken. Print remains a powerful platform with a strong and loyal readership. Our goal is to tap into that power even more − beginning next Sunday.

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Love also serves as regional editor for the USA TODAY Network Ohio. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He can’t respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Editor Beryl Love revamped Sunday Enquirer taps into power of print