Utusan Sarawak’s Digital Shift A Strategic Move, Not Just A Trend, Says advisor

By Hamdan Ismail

KUCHING, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Utusan Sarawak’s decision to end its nearly 80-year era as a printed newspaper is not merely a response to the growing trend of online publications but also an effort to redefine its traditional reporting approach.

Its executive editorial advisor, Kadir Dikoh, said Sarawak’s oldest newspaper, once reputed as a political broadsheet would focus more on people-centric stories and straight-forward reporting.

“We will try to reduce politically oriented stories, as well as content related to religious or cultural issues. We want to focus on straightforward reporting covering crime, accidents, floods and similar news,” he told Bernama today.

Earlier today, he announced on Facebook that both Utusan Sarawak and its weekly edition, Mingguan Sarawak, would cease their print versions effective tomorrow and transition to a fully online operation starting Saturday.

According to him, the online version of the newspaper will be accessible via its website, mobile app and Facebook page.

Kadir said the decision to go fully online had been in serious consideration since last year, following an in-depth study on readership trends comparing the print and digital versions of the newspaper.

The study revealed a decline in print readership, particularly among senior citizens, due to increasing digital literacy.

At the same time, their online platform’s followers had remained stagnant at around 4,000 before 2023. However, after an aggressive digital push mid-year, the numbers rose to 83,000.

He said the surge in online engagement was particularly evident during the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ programme, when the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and the royal family embarked on a road tour from Sabah to Sarawak in September 2023.

“Our online video following grew significantly during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Kembara programme. We captured numerous videos and uploaded them, taking an aggressive approach during that time. From there, I realised that this is our new direction,” he said.

Kadir said transitioning online would position Utusan Sarawak to better resonate with younger generations, who now make up the majority of the country’s population.

He also said that going online would allow the newspaper to serve as a more effective platform for the government to engage with youths, who play a crucial role in shaping Malaysia’s political landscape.

“If the government wants to convince voters, it can no longer rely on print news, it would be a missed target,” he said, adding that with time, the online version of Utusan Sarawak would offer greater benefits to the public.

Acknowledging that the shift to digital is a major step after almost eight decades as a print publication, Kadir expressed hope that loyal readers would embrace the change.

“I hope those who previously read our print edition will migrate online. They’ll be able to access news faster and in greater detail. We have our own app, website and Facebook page,” he added.

-- BERNAMA