As February comes to a close and we bid farewell to the month of love, here at Reach Printing, we’ve been celebrating our love of paper.

We are proud members of Two Sides, an organisation with the common goal to promote the sustainability of print and paper, and correct outdated misconceptions about how the paper industry is handling sustainability.

At Reach we are committed to managing our environmental impacts responsibly and sustainably. We have been reducing our waste year on year since 2019 and in 2022 managed to source 98% of our paper through recycled materials or certified sustainable forests, 18% above the industry average in Europe. We continue to work with suppliers to maximise this.

Their Love Paper global campaign launched in 2012, seeking to improve perceptions and raise awareness of the sustainability, practicality and attractiveness of print, paper and paper-based packaging. Between 2011 and 2016 there was a 50% increase in UK consumer recognition of the environmental-friendliness of printed newspapers, showing the enormous impact the campaign has had on perceptions of print products.

As members, we can offer our contract print clients the option to carry the campaign logo on their printed marketing materials, helping to enhance their sustainability messaging whilst sharing the positive story of paper to others. The logo is a registered trademark that reaches millions of consumers every month through advertising in newspapers and magazines.

There are a number of ways you can support the campaign…

• Use of the Love Paper logo on printed product packaging or marketing material
• Educate yourselves on the sustainability of paper and print
• Follow the movement on social media, using the hashtag #LovePaper

At Reach, we seek to tell all our consumers and clients the reasons why they should love paper and print as much as we do. From its environmental benefits, to its ability to improve mental wellbeing, there are many reasons why people should love paper.

If you would like to discuss using the Love Paper logo on your marketing materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Reach Printing Services.

Student newspapers are run by students, for students – and they have a longstanding tradition of being the place to go for information, opinion, recommendations, administrative news and anything else that students might need to know about university or local life.

They are also known for covering hard-hitting topics, whether that is holding senior leadership to account, covering disputes about accommodation or highlighting issues with representation, often empowering the student body to take collective action to influence change.

Many award-winning journalists started out their careers as keen student journalists, and for those looking to learn more about student culture as they set out on their university journey, student newspapers are a great place to start – providing high-quality original content unlike anything else.

Like many print publications, student newspapers have adapted their offering to remain relevant in the digital landscape. Students continue to innovate ensuring that printed and digital student newspapers maintain their longevity far into the future.

Reach Printing is proud to support the mission to keep university publications firmly on the news stand. We print some of the most prestigious student newspapers in the UK, including those for Newcastle University, King’s College London, Oxford University and Durham University – the latter of which is one of Britain’s oldest student publications, founded in 1948.

So, why are student newspapers so important?

They give students a voice.

In a world dominated by the many opinions and stories online, it can often feel like certain voices go unheard, especially for students. University newspapers allow for a student voice, offering the chance for expression and discussion on pressing social issues and student life. 

University can be an isolating and scary time for some, particularly in the face of change. By empowering students through the university newspaper, they are able to communicate with their peers and provide an outlet for the student body to listen and engage with, reducing feelings of alienation. 

They help to keep students safe.

Whilst university culture is often consumed by a lifestyle of studying and socialising, there is also a negative side to student life. Through the student newspaper, individuals become inspired to confront issues, whether that is mental health, crime or anything else and when enough people start to mention a problem, this encourages change within a student body.

Highlighting these types of stories in the university newspaper identifies regular issues and is more likely to have a greater impact on the reader, as one thing they share in common with the writer is the student experience.

They inspire careers.

Writing for the student newspaper is a stepping stone to a career. It teaches students similar values that are held within the workplace, such as working to a deadline, and provides students with the opportunity to try out various roles and duties in newspaper publication. These could include copywriting, photography and conducting research. Through student newspapers, young individuals are able to learn the skills that are required later on in life in a working environment. 

Many successful journalists started out their careers at student newspapers.

They generate revenue.

Student newspapers are a fantastic way to generate funding. Forming connections within the local community and reaching out to businesses makes university papers a great platform to sell unique advertising space. Adverts presented in the student newspaper are likely to be better received, as readers know it has come from fellow students and ads can be easily customised to specifically target the university audience.

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In short, university newspapers are vital not only to the team that produces them, but to the entire student body. Reach Printing will continue to support the publication of a diverse range of exciting student newspapers and journalism – and if you have a newspaper you’d like to get off the ground, get in touch today.

From all of the team at Reach Printing: Congratulations to everyone who has recently received their results – and Good Luck to all students waiting to receive results in the coming weeks.

At a time when digital communication is second nature, why is the world suddenly so caught up in the world of print?

A survey conducted by Phil Riebel, the president of Two Sides North America, concluded that:

In our previous blog, we discussed some of the benefits of print advertising, including brand recall, consumer trust and increased engagement. Another, less discussed area, where printed products come into their own is their ability to evoke an emotional response.

Print & Nostalgia

All of us can remember a certain book from our childhood. If you think about yours now, you can probably picture the cover perfectly in your mind. You can remember the weight of the book, the size of the font, the colours of the images, and perhaps even the scent. Perhaps you even remember the excitement of receiving the book and adding it to your collection.

Printed products have a special place in many people’s hearts. They can be strong triggers of nostalgia, evoking moments of security and safety which is perhaps why 82% of consumers report trusting printed advertising for purchasing decisions.

Tactile Print

Readers report spending over 20 minutes on average reading publications, with many reporting the physical object of a magazine or a newspaper as being a big draw.

In fact, holding a printed product in your hand and experiencing the textures of different papers is an emotional process that circumvents the thinking part of our brain entirely. Textures we feel stimulate nerves in our fingers and hands which directly communicate with our central nervous system, creating a soothing sensation. Scientists are still investigating the causes for this interesting physical reaction, but it’s safe to say that the tactile benefits of the printed product are evident.

Print & Relaxation

Many people find pleasure in curling up with something to read, in a kind of mentally active relaxation that is hard to replicate with other mediums. Reading fully engages the mind and any activity that possesses meditative qualities in which the brain is fully focused on a single task is proven to reduce stress and enhance relaxation.

A study conducted by neuroscientists at the University of Sussex*, found that individuals who had read for merely six minutes exhibited slower heart rates, less muscle tension, and reduced stress levels. As the world becomes more digital, print has become a valid escape from screens and, certainly, a calm, relaxed audience is a more receptive audience.

From Emotion to Action

The emotional response to printed products makes them both experiential and enjoyable, but the benefits don’t stop there. Strong emotional responses often encourage further action. When people view print, they may:

• Save it for later
• Tell other people
• Pass it on
• Visit a website
• Read reviews
• Make a purchase
• Make a donation
• Plan a large purchase
• Use a voucher or a code
• Visit a shop, attraction, place or restaurant
• Order a catalogue or brochure

So, which emotional responses come up for you when you read a printed product? The long bank holiday weekend coming up might be the perfect moment to dedicate some time to the pleasure of reading!

*Lewis, D. (2009), Galaxy Stress Research. Mindlab International, Sussex University, UK