Saving trees

While I've always been concerned about whether I focus too much on digital communication and the Internet, some surfing today calmed any fears I have.

According to data at Internetworldstats.com, more than 84% of Canadians use the Internet. In a country of 33 million, 28 million of us are Internet users. That doesn't mean we're all comfortable or competent, but the level of usage ranks Canada at #6 in the world (US is #13, about 12 percentage points below Canada.)

Those who "don't go online" will soon find themselves quickly out of the loop. Another report today said that the Los Angeles Times' "revenue is now sufficient to cover the Times's entire editorial payroll, print and online." This is a monumental statement and it demonstrates how readership is slowly but surely moving from print to online, especially when it comes to news. Not only that, but advertisers, the driving force behind all private communication enterprises, believe the online news is delivering a viable audience.

From a church communications perspective, we've always believed "if it's in their hands, they will read it." The 21st century axiom is more likely "if it's in their e-mail box, they will read it."
But how many congregations spend hundreds of dollars printing newsletters, bulletin announcements and posters, when all it takes is a compilation of e-mail addresses to do much the same thing?

Ten years ago I was part of a project that encouraged congregations to buy computers. The challenge now is to use them for more than word processing and flyers copied onto paper. It's a lot cheaper online.