TARLAKENYO ( May 3, 2025) – The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), the country’s leading broadsheet, announced yesterday that it will integrate its print and digital operations under its sister company, Inquirer Interactive, Inc., effective July 1, 2025.
The move signals a major shift in the media landscape as print newspapers face declining readership and revenues in the digital age.
In an official statement, the PDI confirmed that Inquirer Interactive, which manages Inquirer.net, will take over the newspaper’s publication. The consolidation aims to strengthen its financial stability while expanding its digital reach.
The merger will combine PDI’s print subscriber base with Inquirer.net’s 27 million monthly page visits and 2.7 million broadsheet readers, allowing the news organization to deliver content more efficiently across platforms. Several PDI editorial staff will transition to Inquirer Interactive, ensuring continuity in operations while maintaining the paper’s editorial standards.
Affected employees will receive legally mandated separation benefits, according to the statement.
DECLINE OF PRINT NEWSPAPERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Inquirer’s restructuring reflects broader trends in the media industry, where print circulation has steadily declined due to digital competition and changing reader habits. A 2023 study by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) found that print newspaper sales dropped by 60% over the past decade, with advertising revenues falling even faster.
Similarly, a 2024 Reuters Institute report highlighted that only 18% of Filipinos now rely on print newspapers for news, while 72% prefer online sources. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, as lockdowns disrupted print distribution and pushed readers toward digital platforms.
“I’ll miss the feel of a physical newspaper, but I understand why this had to happen,” said Jun Aniceto, 54, a loyal reader since the late 1980s.
Despite these challenges, legacy newspapers like the Inquirer have struggled to monetize digital content effectively. Many rely on paywalls and ads, but revenue from these sources often fails to offset losses from print.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE INQUIRER
Founded in 1985, the Philippine Daily Inquirer became a symbol of press freedom, playing a key role in the 1986 People Power Revolution. It has won numerous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism in 2001.
While the merger marks the end of an era for PDI as a standalone print entity, the company emphasized its commitment to its motto: “Balanced News, Fearless Views.”
Media analysts see the move as inevitable but caution that the digital transition alone may not guarantee survival.
“The Inquirer is adapting to survive, but the real test will be sustaining quality journalism in a crowded, fast-paced digital space,” said former PDI correspondent Ronald Dizon.
Subscribers and advertisers have been assured of uninterrupted service, though some longtime print readers expressed nostalgia.
With over 2.7 million nationwide readers daily, the newspaper enjoys a market share of over 50% and tops the readership surveys, according to one of its websites.
PDI has four regional bureaus, over 130 provincial correspondents nationwide, and four printing presses in Cebu, Davao, Laguna, and Manila – but this might change soon as the company transitions to a more digital presence.
