For years, regional news publishers were told that print advertising is in terminal decline. But the data tells a different story. The global commercial printing market is projected to reach $659 billion by 2032. This offers publishers opportunities to launch print advertising campaigns and generate more ad revenue.
While digital offers scale, print commands a level of engagement digital often lacks: strong trust and sustained advertiser confidence. Advertisers value the tactile, tangible nature of print, which allows messages to linger in readers’ minds and creates a sense of credibility that online banners seldom achieve.
Local publishers also highlight print’s ability to deliver deep, focused engagement and a tangible, trustworthy experience that digital alone cannot replicate.
The data backs this up. According to industry research, 82% of consumers trust print advertisements most when making a purchasing decision, outperforming digital alternatives.
This combination of trust and memorability makes print advertising particularly powerful for small and medium businesses looking to drive immediate local action. Print also complements digital, with cross-channel campaigns reinforcing both reach and credibility.
Furthermore, print delivers higher brand recall than digital alternatives. The challenge has never been a lack of demand; it has been the speed of execution.
Slow creative turnarounds have acted as a brake on growth, leaving sales teams waiting days for creative assets while digital campaigns launch in minutes.
By automating repetitive production tasks, sales teams can focus more on strategy and client relationships, increasing ad revenue and efficiency.
Integrating automation across the workflow, from intake to approvals, also reduces errors, shortens timelines, and enables repeatable personalization at scale.
Print advertising isn’t dead in 2026; your workflow is
For too long, slow creative processes and siloed systems have silently limited revenue. Typical campaigns follow a legacy path: brief, back-and-forth emails, manual design, multiple approvals, prepress, and missed deadlines. Valuable deals are lost while digital campaigns move at lightning speed.
In 2026, print ads are becoming scalable again. Modern print operations rely on standardized inputs, reusable templates, automated checks, and structured approvals. Repetitive production tasks are handled automatically, freeing teams to focus on strategy and client relationships.
Leading publishers are also using integrated systems that connect data, web-to-print, and analytics to optimize workflow, improve predictability, and make personalization repeatable.
Automation unlocks print’s revenue potential
By automating repetitive production tasks across the workflow—from intake to approvals—publishers reduce errors, shorten timelines, and enable repeatable personalization at scale. Leading publishers demonstrate what’s possible:
- Respond faster: Move from pitch to proof in seconds.
- Launch sooner: Consumers act on print ads immediately.
- Increase sales, close more deals: Remove friction that slows local sales momentum.
Publishers that integrate automation now are positioned to take full advantage of print’s unique combination of trust, engagement, and speed. Print is no longer a legacy challenge; it is a high-margin, revenue-driving channel built for today’s fast-paced ad sales cycles.
Leading news publishers show the way
Combining print credibility with faster, personalized, and integrated production strengthens both advertiser relationships and audience engagement.
For example, McClatchy streamlined its print and digital ad operations using Mediaferry, automating end-to-end creative production and workflow management. This allowed their teams to launch campaigns faster, reduce administrative time, and track performance in real time. The result was higher efficiency, improved audience engagement, and better ROI for advertisers.
Similarly, Gannett, operating USA Today and 200+ local papers, implemented AI-enhanced campaign workflows that scaled their print and digital ad production 2.4x, from 50-70 campaigns monthly to 120-150. This operational leap cut release times significantly while driving subscriber revenue growth through faster localized execution across print markets.
On the other hand UK’s largest regional publisher, Newsquest, adopted AI-driven creative production that slashed ad turnaround from 48 hours to 15 minutes. Sales teams now generate professional print ads during client calls without design expertise, accelerating approvals and launches while boosting team productivity and advertiser satisfaction.
With 90% faster production at McClatchy, Gannett, and Newsquest, print moves from cost centre to high-margin growth engine.
Publishers that integrate automation now are positioning themselves to take full advantage of print’s unique combination of trust, engagement, and speed, ensuring that print remains a central part of their revenue strategy for years to come.
