Odessa American announces conversion to digital editions

ODESSA – The Odessa American (OA) has converted from a seven days per week print publication to a seven days per week digital-only edition supplemented by two days per week of continued print publication.  
Subscribers receive each morning, seven days per week, the digital edition of the newspaper delivered directly to their email accounts. 
The digital editions are also available for single copy purchase via the Odessa American’s website, www.oaoa.com.  
Current home delivery and single copy prices will remain unchanged.
In addition to this new, seven days per week digital edition, the newspaper's traditional printed edition continues to be delivered to subscribers on Wednesdays and Saturdays (the Weekend Edition) via the US Postal Service. The Wednesday and Saturday print products will also be available for single copy sales at local convenience stores, local grocery stores and other locations throughout the Permian Basin.  
“While our industry has discussed this type of digital conversion for many years, it became increasingly clear coming out of the pandemic this is the sensible and opportune time to implement these changes,” said Jeremy L. Halbreich, Chairman & CEO, AIM Media Management, LLC. 
“Significant factors developed during the pandemic include the availability of enhanced technologies which make this conversion fast, efficient and highly attractive to readers; consumers becoming increasingly accustomed to receiving and reading their news and information online; and the ongoing challenges in hiring and retaining an adequate home delivery force,” Halbreich added.     
“For more than 80 years, the OA has served as the quality, respected, objective and indispensable source of news and information for the Permian Basin. Our newspaper has changed in many ways over those decades, from its appearance and content to the time of day it was delivered.  All of these changes have been in response to the changing needs and preferences of our readers,” said Pat Canty, publisher.
“We live at a time when it has become all too clear that the fastest and most effective way of delivering information to you and our other readers and viewers is digitally. The OA is fortunate to already have hundreds of digital-only subscribers and our online viewership continues to grow steadily. And on the business side of our operations, we have a steadily and rapidly growing number of advertisers who use us for their digital advertising and marketing needs in addition to their print advertising. The OA will now be truly digital-first. This makes us all very excited about this next step in our evolution,” Canty added.
“This next step in our evolution and commitment towards serving the Odessa community and surrounding region will afford us the opportunity to maintain and expand the news resources we devote to our product each and every day. We do not plan to reduce the size of our news and reporting staff as part of this transition and with the e-edition our readers and subscribers will receive more news and information than previously via our print-only format,” Canty concluded.
The e-edition is an exact digital replica of the traditional Odessa American newspaper. However, since it is digital, it will now include additional content and features, according to Rick Starks, president & COO, AIM Media Management, LLC.
He noted the e-edition has full search capabilities, the ability to zoom in on specific content, watch videos, create newspaper clippings and provide direct access to years of OA archives. Readers also have the option of downloading the entire e-edition to read in printed format.
Access to the daily e-edition is available anytime of day on any digital platform including mobile phone, digital tablet, laptop or desktop computer. It can be accessed from any web browser, via the website (www.oaoa.com) or via the OA app.  
With print publication supplementing the daily e-edition on two days per week, the Wednesday and Weekend print editions retain the most popular features of the traditional print newspaper including local and national inserts, print advertising, coupons, color comics, puzzle book, Parade magazine and more.