Importance of books, news, and reading continues to be emphasised INDUSTRY / NEWS 8 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2025 - Issue 354 Books and paper have continued to be championed over the last few weeks with several initiatives and projects to champion news, books, and paper. Recently, a Coventry University researcher brought together experts, archivists, and community groups to create a network to preserve the historical archives of local newspapers. With local newspapers transitioning to digital formats and closing their physical offices, the physical materials accumulated over the years – such as photographs and article cuttings – are in danger of being lost. According to Dr Rachel Matthews, who has 15 years of experience working in the local newspaper industry, without a formal system to save physical archives, or a recognition of their importance, most material is simply thrown away. Matthews works at Coventry University’s Research Centre for Arts, Memory, and Communities. With this new project she is collaborating with Gary Collins, an experienced archive specialist, to develop a new approach to acquiring, cataloguing and making physical archives more accessible. The project will develop guidelines for the salvage of newspaper records, working with stakeholders to map existing newspaper collections in the Midlands, understand current preservation efforts, and identify areas where additional support is needed to ensure their long-term sustainability. A central aspect of the project, funded by a grant from The National Archives, is the development of a comprehensive toolkit to guide people in preserving newspaper archives effectively. Four workshops will bring together specialists in cataloguing, intellectual property rights, and digital preservation, which will collectively shape the toolkit’s content. Back in March, World Book Day was celebrated again by children and adults around the world. This year World Book Day highlighted research from the National Literacy Trust that reading is at its lowest levels since records began in 2005 with only one in three children saying they enjoy the activity. Research by World Book Day and Beano Brain found that children are much less likely to grow up as readers if their parents don’t read. With all this in mind World Book Day has encouraged the use of the increasingly popular mediums of podcasts and audiobooks to encourage gateways into reading books. Similar research by reading charity, The Reading Agency, revealed what it labels as a growing reading crisis, especially among younger adults. Nearly half (46%) of UK adults surveyed by The Reading Agency said that they struggle to focus on reading due to distractions around them. The figure rises to 55% among the 16-24 and 35-44 age brackets, and 52% for those aged 25-34. In response, the charity is relaunching its Road to Reading national campaign this year, which supports people to read 30 minutes each week for ten weeks while providing a range of tips and guidance. printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine FESPA launches new charity initiative The Federation of European Screen Printers Associations (FESPA) has announced the launch of The FESPA Foundation, a new sister organisation to FESPA dedicated to encouraging sustainable practices. With the strapline ‘print for good’, the Foundation aims to encourage environmentally positive practices throughout the speciality print and visual communications industry, as well as channelling resources into community support and educational outreach programmes. As part of its principal activities, The FESPA Foundation will encourage exhibitors of FESPA’s various trade shows and events to produce printed applications that can enrich educational environments for children in underprivileged communities, thereby reducing printed waste from FESPA exhibitions worldwide. The Foundation will then facilitate the collection, transportation, distribution, and installation of these print materials in the beneficiary communities via international and local partners. FESPA will also begin collecting in-kind and monetary donations for the Foundation to further support communities, which it aims to distribute via local charities and community outreach programmes. Fujifilm has announced price increases to a range of its consumables and services in response to cost pressures it has experienced in the European market. According to the manufacturer, although inflationary trends have stabilised since 2024, Fujifilm Europe continues to be affected by challenges including increased labour costs, elevated freight and warehousing expenses, sustained energy prices, and higher costs from suppliers. These pressures have resulted in the need for Fujifilm to implement what it has referred to as ‘double digit price increases’. Commenting on the price increases, Taku Ueno, senior vice president of Fujifilm Graphic Communications, says: “Ongoing market pressures leave us with no option but to revise our pricing structure. These adjustments are necessary to ensure we can continue delivering the quality and reliability our customers expect.” The increases, which vary depending on the product category, took effect from April 1st, 2025. Fujifilm announces price rises FESPA recently released a video detailing a project of the Foundation in South Africa According to research from The Reading Agency, 30 minutes of reading a week can lead to a 20% boost in reported life satisfaction
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