Six years ago, the upsurge of the internet and the emerging power of social media triggered an economic downturn in the newspaper industry not just in the country but around the world. This was recession time for newspapers and not a few closed down.
For many newspaper companies, the slowdown provided a chilling reminder that there is nothing “comfortable” about the industry’s future.
With increasing competition from digital media coupled with market volatility, the only security in newspaper business comes from making sure that it is as efficient, nimble and innovation-focused as possible.
While many folded up, Edge Davao, as young as it was then at five years, decided to make a run for the challenge. From a weekly business paper that is relatively manageable, it jumped into the high stakes competition of the daily newspaper market. Bold as it was, Edge Davao was determined.
DRIVEN BY DETERMINATION
If you want to know what determination is look at the faces of runners who seemed like they were dying in an ironman competition that involved 4km of ocean swimming, 180km of cycling, and 42km of running.
That is determination.
Edge Davao looked at the faces of newspapers who seemed like they were dying in a competition they are about to lose to the dictates of technology. And yet, it decided to be in that race.
That is determination.
DRIVEN BY PASSION
When work is driven by passion, everything seems to be exciting.
That mindset. Edge Davao’s team from editorial to marketing to publication is driven by passion. It is that mentality where one loves the job that it comes so naturally to be productive. Passion is the purpose that becomes a profession. We all have a footprint in the world but it is how we finish the race that matters. The day you reach perfection is the day you have stopped running on passion. Failures are the best blessings in disguise because they push us harder than ever. Edge Davao had its share of ups and downs, but being fuelled by passion keeps it just bouncing back.
It’s that Michael Jordan mentality. One of the greatest basketball players ever to play the game, he did not make his high school basketball team and could have easily given up. His passion for the game took him places he would have never thought about. Edge Davao had this mindset and just kept pushing and sacrificed for passion.
DRIVEN BY INNOVATION
Given the challenge of technology and the breadth and speeds of social media, newspaper owners have re-examined their firms’ priorities, embraced new solutions and those who stayed on stubbornly, created effective change. Edge Davao reinvented its strategies and in so doing, have found new customers and markets. The paper was the first to reinvent the old newspaper look and came up with the design which led others to follow suit.
It doesn’t stop there. There will be more changes coming in the way for the paper as it looks forward to more exciting times.
At eleven years and counting, Edge Davao looks at the hardware it has collected on its trophy case and looks for more. The difference between mere existence and excellence is in the mindset. And that is the force that drives Edge Davao.
