Millenials. The Digital Generation. Gen Y. There are different monikers for this generation, but the general characterization is of a younger person attached to their smartphone or other mobile device like a virtual umbilical cord. This is the generation that considers print about as useful a communication form as carrier pigeons, right? The latest studies are indicating that this isn’t always the case. In fact, one current update from the Value of Print reports that “A recent study finds the new digital generation—teens, ages 12 to 17—generally have more favorable attitudes toward print, radio, and TV ads, than online ads. (Print in the Mix, U.S. Teens Prefer Offline Ads to Online.) Actually, if you—or your customers—assume younger generations communicate solely on an electronic interface, it may be a surprise to learn that a significant number of college-age students today are choosing print for academic reading! Misconceptions There are a number of misconceptions around how Gen Y students consume print material. In 2010 experts even predicted that eText (digital textbook) usage would rise more than 16%. However, this increase didn’t happen. (The Hays Daily News, Students Prefer Print). In one study, “Student Reading Practices in Print and Electronic Media,” by Nancy M. Foasberg, set to be published in the journal College & Research Libraries in September 2014, researchers tracked the reading habits of the College of New York students. What they found was not a group of digital-addicted zombies but rather scholars who crave the tangible effectiveness printed textbooks afford. Key findings of the study: Although students used electronic media for non-academic reading, many rely on paper for academics. As it turns out, students like the interactivity that print allows—taking notes and highlighting on the page. Several students in the study expressed that they disliked the embedded links in eTexts because they were distracting. Some students use digital textbooks because their schools offer eBook deals. However those who have eBooks end up printing them out and cancelling out any money they may have saved. By the Numbers For another way to see what medium students prefer, just look at the numbers. In a recent article from Brown University, eBook sales account for less than 0.5% of their bookstore revenue. Although the school expects the eventual transition to digital textbooks, according to Steven Souza, the bookstore’s director, “Students [currently] seem to have zero interest in [eTexts].” The students there cite their preference for printed books on factors like the ease and familiarity. One student commented, “I like flipping though a textbook.” This Is Your Brain on Print Why do students seem to prefer print for academic reading? The Foasberg study claims there are scientific reasons behind their choice. Print may actually...

Millenials. The Digital Generation. Gen Y. There are different monikers for this generation, but the general characterization is of a younger person attached to their smartphone or other mobile device like a virtual umbilical cord. This is the generation that considers print about as useful a communication form as carrier pigeons, right? The latest studies are indicating that this isn’t always the case. In fact, one current update from the Value of Print reports that “A recent study finds the new digital generation—teens, ages 12 to 17—generally have more favorable attitudes toward print, radio, and TV ads, than online ads. (Print in the Mix, U.S. Teens Prefer Offline Ads to Online.) Actually, if you—or your customers—assume younger generations communicate solely on an electronic interface, it may be a surprise to learn that a significant number of college-age students today are choosing print for academic reading! Misconceptions There are a number of misconceptions around how Gen Y students consume print material. In 2010 experts even predicted that eText (digital textbook) usage would rise more than 16%. However, this increase didn’t happen. (The Hays Daily News, Students Prefer Print). In one study, “Student Reading Practices in Print and Electronic Media,” by Nancy M. Foasberg, set to be published in the journal College & Research Libraries in September 2014, researchers tracked the reading habits of the College of New York students. What they found was not a group of digital-addicted zombies but rather scholars who crave the tangible effectiveness printed textbooks afford. Key findings of the study: Although students used electronic media for non-academic reading, many rely on paper for academics. As it turns out, students like the interactivity that print allows—taking notes and highlighting on the page. Several students in the study expressed that they disliked the embedded links in eTexts because they were distracting. Some students use digital textbooks because their schools offer eBook deals. However those who have eBooks end up printing them out and cancelling out any money they may have saved. By the Numbers For another way to see what medium students prefer, just look at the numbers. In a recent article from Brown University, eBook sales account for less than 0.5% of their bookstore revenue. Although the school expects the eventual transition to digital textbooks, according to Steven Souza, the bookstore’s director, “Students [currently] seem to have zero interest in [eTexts].” The students there cite their preference for printed books on factors like the ease and familiarity. One student commented, “I like flipping though a textbook.” This Is Your Brain on Print Why do students seem to prefer print for academic reading? The Foasberg study claims there are scientific reasons behind their choice. Print may actually...

You only have to read through one industry publication to know that there is a lot of talk about digital printing. From package to commercial printing, innovation in this field is taking place daily. If there were a good time to declare a “Digital Boom,” you can say that time is now. We’ve expanded the digital print category for the 2013 Premier Print Awards competition because it has become such an important, growing segment in our industry. Printing companies can now choose from eight, more product-specific subcategories to enter their pieces like On-Demand, Variable-Data, and more. “As a representative for the industry, Printing Industries of America is no stranger to adapting to new technologies to support the needs of our members,” says Lisa Rawa, Vice President, Marketing. “We’ve seen a surge of digitally printed entries in recent years, and it is evident that these printers can really hold their own. We wanted to give them new, exciting opportunities to be recognized for their work.” Did we mention that there are more than 100 other categories to enter in the Premier Print Awards? According to Lisa, “We want this competition to touch upon every niche in the industry so that any printer has an opportunity to enter and win. Digital printing is expanding, and we have expanded our offerings to reflect this.” This is not the first time we have re-energized the Premier Print Awards to keep the contest relevant and in sync with the industry environment. And with all of the innovation among printers, it will not be the last change either. Here are the new Digital Printing subcategories for the Premier Print Awards: On-Demand Brochures and Booklets (1, 2, or 3 colors) Brochures and Booklets (4 or more colors) Juvenile Books Novelty Books Cookbooks Customized/Personalized/Variable-Data Digital Printing Campaign Read more about the Primer Print Awards and how you can enter on our website www.printing.org/ppa.  Also find out about other digital printing education...

The quality of print-centric websites is just getting more creative and technically advanced. They are able to provide customers with an extraordinary product. Just take a look at The John Roberts Company, Mimeo, and Wells and Drew. These companies happen to be winners of our web2award. This is the only award of its kind that honors the best websites in the print/marketing service provider industry. Winning one means that your company receives benefits like prestige, publicity, and, not to mention, an applause-worthy statue!  You could say that winning a web2award is like winning an Oscar but even better for a print service provider like you. That’s why we created this video series—featuring some excited “winners”—to showcase some of the award categories you can enter this year. Print Service Provider’s Business Website Category (E-Commerce) If your company developed its own print-centric e-commerce solution (there is also a No E-CommerceComponent category)or built, hosted, or branded one for a customer, how would you like 10,000 print buyers and marketing professionals to know about this capability? You can shout it from the rooftops when you enter and win the 2012 web2awards. View this video to learn more about the E-commerce Component category and discover the benefits of winning, which include:     Social Commerce Category As you know, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms are a great way to engage customers and increase traffic to your website. As a result of the explosion of social media, we have added a new category to the 2012 web2awards competition—Social Commerce. Awards in this category will be for sites that directly sell print and related products through Facebook (F-commerce), Twitter (T-commerce), or other social media platforms that allow users to buy directly through the social site. Learn more about this new category in this video, which features a very “social” award winner. She is so excited about her win that she literally has to be dragged off the stage.     Social Media/Cross Media/Promotional Case Study CategoryAwards in this category will be for sites that can best demonstrate how a company’s print-centric social media efforts, cross-media campaign, and/or promotional website have met or exceeded company objectives, with quantifiable results. Please provide details on all components of the campaign in the details section of this entry form. Speaking of magic, take a moment to view this video and see how performing magic for your customers can win you a web2award. “Prepare to be amazed!” by our own Sam Shea     As a winner, you receive benefits including: Press release announcing winners—distributed to industry-related publications Listing on the Digital Printing Council website with links to winner’s website A YouTube video, included in Printing Industries of America’s...