Starting next month, the print edition of the Peoria Journal Star won't be delivered to your door by a newspaper carrier anymore. It'll be in your mailbox instead, six days a week.
An unnamed spokesperson replied to an emailed inquiry sent by WCBU to Peoria Journal Star executive editor Romando Dixson on Tuesday morning. The spokesperson described the move as a strategic decision parent company Gannett has made in numerous markets.
The spokesperson also said they believe the shift from carriers to the U.S. Postal Service will provide "a more consistent experience" for subscribers. The paper has apologized for delivery issues in the past.
An article on the Peoria Journal Star's website attributes labor challenges, fuel prices, and competition for workers as some of the reasons for the change. It's unclear how many carriers will be impacted.
The shift from carriers to mail delivery is not new in the newspaper industry. The Local News Initiative at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism says the move isn't without precedent around the country for reasons similar to those stated by the Journal Star, but it does come with some potential pitfalls of its own, like increasing postal rates.
The paper will be delivered Monday through Saturday, with what was formerly the Sunday edition arriving on Saturday. The Journal Star previously eliminated the print edition of the Saturday paper last year.
The changes go into effect on Nov. 13. The Peoria Journal Star can also be read online, and subscribers can access e-newspapers.
