Illinois newspaper finds profitability by operating offline

Jeff Egbert, publisher of the Perry County Weekly-Press in Du Quoin, Illinois, has found financial success by operating his newspaper almost entirely offline. By eschewing a website and minimizing presence on platforms like Facebook, Egbert has increased rack sales and subscriptions, as readers must purchase physical copies to access major stories.

This strategy contrasts with the broader media industry trend of transitioning to digital-first models. Egbert’s approach serves as a response to digital content theft and the diminishing returns of online news sharing. The decision comes amid heightened industry tension regarding Meta’s upcoming commercial terms, which will require publishers on Facebook and Instagram to allow Meta’s AI systems to ingest their content.