The newspaper industry is a growing technological medium, and the industry demands that you be on top of your game. Knowing the basic functions of getting started as a printer or working for a printer is critical in this field. Working with a computer is a necessity, but there are other aspects to the industry that you should also learn.

The newspaper-printing business is a lifelong career for many people who have the right training. Consider these suggestions to help you find the most appropriate newspaper printers education and training options:

1. Take course to understand what the newspaper printing industry requires from its print operators.

2. Study the basics of newspaper printing.

3. Continue learning new things about the printing industry technology you use.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take courses to obtain a newspaper printing job

Having a good eye for detail will help in starting a career in printing newspapers, and a degree won't hurt you either. A printer will need to have a good eye for detail and know how to use color for advertisements and other articles so the reader will want to read is necessary to start out in the industry. A background in art will help, but it's not required.

I recommend: Study newspaper printing and other aspects of the printing industry through courses at Augusta Technical College. Central Texas College also offers newspaper printer courses to help you obtain training. Select “Graphics and Printing” or “Graphics and Printing Technology” from the “Programs of Study offered at CTC” dropdown menu to download the PDF list of courses.

Educate yourself about the basics of newspaper printing

Most printers work through computers and other technologies that deal with computers and computer chips, so knowing the digital age can and will be beneficial in working the newspaper printing industry. Digital printing and laser printing are the most popular printing forms. So having a background in design, computer training and graphic design will be a plus in starting your career. Also, knowing about local unions can help find a position and education needed for a job in the industry. Most unions only ask for a high school education and then offer training in areas that a person wants to specialize in.

I recommend: Printing Industries of America offers numerous programs for learning to operate a newspaper printing press. Additionally, this website gives business tips, including how to figure newspaper printing costs and how to give accurate newspaper printing quotes. Dunwoody College of Technology offers courses where students can specialize in Pre-Press/Digital Imaging (PREP) or Press and Finishing (PRES) to learn what it takes to be newspaper printing machine operators.

Obtain training for newspaper printing technology

Education and training for the equipment you use is an important aspect of newspaper printing. Check with the manufacturer of the equipment or with your distributor to find out about education and training sessions available.

I recommend: Goss International offers training courses in four disciplines, including press operations. The company’s training courses cover a wide variety of technology you may use. Web Press Corporation offers quick links to train you on machine maintenance.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many printers of newspapers offer apprenticeship programs for printing press operators. These programs last two to four years, and you can find them advertised locally. However, a graphic arts degree is usually required for digital newspaper printing jobs.

The first step in getting a newspaper out to your readers is newspaper printing. Printing newspapers requires a good deal of specialized equipment. If you don't have the budget or need for your own printing press, you can easily find newspaper printing companies that will create the newspaper for your business, and can even mail it to your readers.

A number of newspaper printers do conduct all of their business online, making it easier for you to communicate your needs and get a printed product quickly. Find a variety of options that will help your business reduce its newspaper printing cost:

1. Get free newspaper printing quotes online.
2. Contact a web newspaper printer with your business request.
3. Find newspaper printing companies that will mail your product to readers.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get quotes from multiple printers of newspapers

It's always a good idea to shop around for a service before making a choice, so you know all of the options available for your business. Compare newspaper printing prices by asking for quotes from a variety of printers.

I recommend: Get free quotes from multiple newspaper printers near you from Printing Industry Exchange. Submit a quote request form and hear back from newspaper printers local or worldwide. Request quotes for newspapers at PrintVendors.com. Specify your needs and hear back from local vendors that are part of their network.

Find a web printing company to produce your newspaper

In the digital age, it's not necessary to find a local service to print your newspaper. If you can write up your newspaper and send it electronically, you can have your paper printed anywhere in the world. Find a web newspaper printer offering the services you need and submit a price request.

I recommend: Press Journal Printing is a commercial web printer capable of creating newspapers, booklets, tabloids, catalogs, and coupon books. Visit their website to request a quote or contact a service representative. Eagle Web Press prints everything from newspapers to manuals. Request a quote and see samples of their work online.

Find a newspaper printer who can mail your newspaper to customers

Save on your overall newspaper printing costs by locating a newspaper printing company that offers a variety of services, including printing and mailing. Rather than outsourcing tasks to multiple vendors, have a single company both print your paper and get it into your readers' mailboxes.

I recommend: Park Press offers custom newspaper printing and mailing services. See their website for a full list of mailing options, as well as to request a free quote. Newspaper Printing Co. is a large family-run business that offers a full range of newspaper printing options, from pre-press and bindery to shipping and direct mail. They offer mailing services both throughout the USA and worldwide.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When shopping around for newspaper printers, be sure to ask about the quality of their printing press. If you need a high quality publication, know that the newspaper printer you choose has the equipment needed to get the job done.

A critical step in putting out a newspaper is getting it printed by a quality printer. As the newspaper industry increasingly becomes more technical, a complete understanding of newspaper printers key terms is a necessary starting point in the search for the right printer. Once the newspaper printing business is delved into, you will find that there is much more to learn and a whole new world of newspaper printing technical and business terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offset printing

Offset printing is a fast and inexpensive technique most commonly used for newspaper printing in which the ink transfers from a plate to a blanket to the paper.

I recommend: Read about the offset printing process and see photos of how the offset printing presses work at How Stuff Works.

Four-color process printing

Four-color process printing might also be referred to as color-process printing, full-color printing or just process printing. It simulates full-color pictures using only four colors: black, magenta, cyan and yellow.

I recommend: Find out more about the four-color printing process at Printing For Less.

Ink-jet printing

Ink-jet printing is a higher-quality technique for printing full-color images using ink squirted through computer-controlled tiny nozzles. It is usually only used for full-color ads in newspaper printing.

I recommend: Visit Profit Through Innovation to read about the latest technological innovations in ink-jet printing.

Newsprint

Newsprint is the name for the very thin, inexpensive paper used for printing newspapers. It is made purposefully for a short life, and innovative newspaper printers are offering the option of printing on recycled paper.

I recommend: Look at Uline Shipping Supplies to see an example of what newsprint paper looks like, the different sizes that can be used for newspaper printing and the different possible weights used.

Perfecting press

A perfecting press is a newer technology that prints both sides of the paper at the same time, perfecting alignment and cutting newspaper print time in half.

I recommend: Learn about a perfecting press and how it works, in addition to the benefits of using one, at Print Industry.