Media Work: Print and Digital Media Collaboration Mutually Beneficial

By Marivir R. Montebon

 

New York City – In this era of digital technology, media practitioners have realized that collaboration strengthens them more than competition does.

Take the case of 5-year-old OSM! Online magazine and the nationally circulated PInas USA. With the regular content sharing and distribution for the past eight months, the readership of both media outlets have increased tremendously.

OSM!, being orginally mounted on the digital platform, found a print expression through Pinas USA and has bolstered its presence and reach. On its 5th year, the online magazine has reached more than 5 million pages read.

I believe that the print platform accorded by PInas USA has aided that extensive reach, in order to expand positive journalism which is the brand for OSM!.

The Pinas USA Magazine, published by the Swara Sug Publications, under the editorship of Muriel Iturralde has relentlessly been in the forefront in bringing balanced and fair news from the Philippines and various states in the US. For the past months, Pinas and OSM! have been in tandem in content sharing that has resulted in mutually increased readership for both media entities.

“I have traveled to numerous states where Pinas is being circulated, the latest was in Houston, Texas.  I gathered from the people that I talked to in the business sector, entertainment, sports, medical field or just plain hardworking kababayan is their yearning for news updates coming from home.To be able to bring good news from home is one of my passions as an editor.  Simply put, I make it a point to filter news that would not make our country look bad. But I do not make up stories to make it look good either. I carefully choose the articles that go to print. The paper should have established the authenticity of the news before publication. Without resorting to sensationalism, if I could be instrumental in easing the Filipinos’ burdens when they read alternative news – the good news – then why not?,” said Iturralde.

Iturralde added that as an editor she looks forward to seeing a better Philippines and running a news magazine that is truthful and balanced is her contribution to such a vision. She is one of the newest members of the Fil-Am Press Club of New York.

Pinas USA is circulated in New York, Connecticut, Texas, Chicago, Hawaii, Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri, Nevada, and California with a volume of 75,000 copies weekly.