CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Cavalier Daily, the University of Virginia’s independent student newspaper, announced Friday a comprehensive plan to shift focus from the traditional daily newspaper to a digital-first newsroom. Starting in August 2013 the organization will replace its daily newspaper with a revamped biweekly newsmagazine and expand online and mobile content offerings.

The newsmagazines will hit stands twice a week – Monday and Thursday – and offer extensive analysis, informative graphics and an increased focus on features, local entertainment and weekend previews.

The reader-friendly, biweekly print newsmagazine “will feature more of the in-depth, investigative journalism that our readers crave, especially at a time when there are important issues related to University governance that merit closer examination,” said Matthew Cameron, outgoing Cavalier Daily editor-in-chief.

New digital offerings include plans for mobile and tablet apps, a daily e-newsletter, high-quality multimedia content and an increased emphasis on social media and web graphics.

“Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs are becoming increasingly popular,” said Kaz Komolafe, Cavalier Daily managing editor. “After an assessment of the newspaper we decided the best way of riding the wave of contemporary journalism was to move with the times.”

Breaking news articles, blogs, videos and other daily content will continue to be posted on the newly redesigned Cavalier Daily website, which launched last August.

“From a literary perspective [restructuring] will allow us to cover breaking news the way it should be covered — fast,” Komolafe said. “We will also be able to offer more in-depth coverage of events, which we are currently prevented from doing because of the time limitations of producing a daily print newspaper.”

The announcement comes amidst an array of shifts in the news media environment, including at U.Va.

“Much of our audience is now getting its news online, and the print frequency reduction will free up time and resources that we can devote to producing digital content that is better tailored to our readers’ preferences,” Cameron said.

The Cavalier Daily received a $20,000 grant from the University of Virginia Parents’ Committee in November last year for digital expansion efforts.

The redesigned print product is part of a greater rebranding strategy, which will include a new logo, renewed marketing efforts and a stronger advertising section suited to serving business partners and clients in a digital age.

“The Cavalier Daily’s mission is two-fold: to provide a high-quality journalistic product to the University community and to train staff members in the art of journalism,” Cameron said. “This print frequency reduction will help us to do both.”

Serving the University of Virginia since 1890, The Cavalier Daily is the University’s financially and editorially independent student voice, as well as one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious college newspapers.

Contacts:

Matthew Cameron

Editor-in-Chief, The Cavalier Daily

m.cameron@cavalierdaily.com

Kaz Komolafe

Managing Editor, The Cavalier Daily

k.komolafe@cavalierdaily.com