Print still a mainstay of learning and the SA economy
DIGITAL and print need to work together – one cannot survive without the other.
That was the message from Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams during her visit to printing giant Novus Holdings in Sandton, Johannesburg this month. The event was organised by Printing SA, in collaboration with Novus holdings to highlight the importance of the printing and packing industry to the economy.
She joined a host of dignitaries, including Printing SA chief executive Steve Thobela and Novus Holdings’ Paul de Bruin and Coenraad Pretorius, to emphasise the fact that the printing industry should not be viewed as a “dying” industry but one that is vibrant and celebrates the convenience and connectivity of the internet, and to caution that this is a changed world, not a new one. It is one where technology has revolutionised, but not replaced the process of printing, which still remains the mainstay of learning and the economy.
While the deputy minister acknowledged the value of digital education, she cautioned that there were still 22 million unconnected people in South Africa. The price of data and absence of infrastructure in rural areas meant printed school text books remained integral to learning.
Felleng Yende, chief executive of the FP&M Seta, sketched just how the extensive print sector contributed to the national economy, with 2 000 printing and packaging companies, 700 suppliers to those companies, 45 000 people working in the printing industry and 31 artisan trades in the industry.
Print reached across products and was everywhere – from revolutionary 3D printing to banners and labels, from wood to plastic and glass. Moreover, despite campaigns urging people to not print to save trees, paper and print had one of the lightest environmental footprints, contributing just 1%to global emissions and boasting South Africa’s highest recycling rate. At least 70% of packaging is recycled.
A presentation by Deon Joubert, acting president of Printing SA and country manager of Two Sides, which promotes the responsible production and use of print of paper and educates consumers on its use as an effective communication medium, showed that even the man in the street valued both. According to a study, 92% of those surveyed wanted to be able to choose how they receive information, and most wanted both print and digital.
The biggest issue was trust: 50% of interviewees still liked to read newspapers or books rather than go online, 83% doubted the credibility of digital information and 63% didn’t pay attention to online advertising.
A whopping 82% placed more trust in traditional media, and it was no longer about speed but believability,, with many brands increasingly targeting magazines for advertising, he said.
The consensus was that a world without printing was unimaginable.