Last call to hear future for Print 2020

Rupert Murdoch may have a bleak view on the future of print, but it’s not what you will hear at Andy McCourt’s Print 20//20 briefing dinner in Sydney next week.

“There has been, is and will continue to be good business opportunities, profitability and outstanding scope for innovation in the printing industry, provided companies are prepared to see past manufacturing into service provision,” said Printing Industries’ national communication and technical services manager, Joe Kowalewski.

“Print 20//20 is about helping owners and managers to develop the focus necessary to see past the perennial challenges that are part of the communication mix revolving around print.”

Keynote speaker Andy McCourt (pictured) believes that many industry participants need to show a little more faith in the industry that has sustained them for so long.

“If you believe the PR juggernaut, printing is about to be Googled, Kindled, iPhoned, Yahooed and Huffed out of existence. It's all hobgoblin and bogey-man nonsense,” he said.

“Sure we are going to see newspapers available on publisher-supplied reading devices; sure some people will prefer eBooks to real books; sure online advertising spend is increasing while print advertising is static or declining. But savvy printers and publishers who harmonise their operations with new technologies and the environment, act on social media trends, play the strengths of Print version 2, and recognise that you can do more with less - these are the ones who will still be around in 2020.

We need to change as an industry and focus more on pro-active future strategies and not 'wait till things get better.' In the unlikely scenario that print is eliminated, it would have to be re-invented again since it is as much a part of our culture as clothing, food and housing."

Bookings for Print 20//20 - a Vision for the Future dinner close on Thursday 9 July. The dinner, which is being supported by Oce, will be held on Tuesday 14 July from 6.30pm-9.30pm at the Waterview Convention Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park.

Registration is available by e-mail to: info@printnet.com.au or by downloading the registration form here. The attendance cost of $110 for Printing Industries members and $135 non members covers dinner, drinks and parking.