As part of an initiative to be more transparent, build trust and give our readers a behind-the-scenes look into our newsroom, the Standard-Examiner is running a weekly series answering questions from our readers.

Readers who have questions they would like to submit can do so by emailing digital@standard.net. They can also participate in a discussion on our Facebook page.

Q: Why did the Standard-Examiner publish its comics in black and white this week instead of color?

A: Newspaper comic strips are provided by five to six content suppliers — including King Features Syndicate, Andrews McMeel and Creators — who represent a variety of readers’ favorite writers and artists. The Standard-Examiner signed contracts with these syndicate companies years ago when the newspaper’s print circulation was much higher. Since then, syndicates have refused to renegotiate prices. As subscribers switch from print to digital subscriptions, and with the yearly rising costs of ink, paper and comic strips, the newspaper staff had to make a decision on where to find the money to pay for comics. 

As a result, from Monday, March 26, through Thursday, March 29, the Standard-Examiner printed its comics page in black and white as it searched for an advertiser to help fund the comics page instead of replacing more expensive comic strips provided by syndicates that our readers know and love. 

So why couldn’t comics be printed on a different color page? 

Advertisers who purchase ads in the Standard-Examiner often request a certain position within the newspaper, and since the advertisement is a paid product, the S-E focuses on meeting the needs of those advertisers. The comics page, which previously had no monetary support, was becoming increasingly more expensive to print due to color ink, and replacing the advertising spots with a non-funded product wouldn’t offset the cost of printing. 

Black and white comics, however, are not uncommon in the newspaper industry. Many newspapers across the country, including the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News, print comics in black and white Mondays through Saturdays, with Sunday printed in color. 

The Standard-Examiner strives to produce a daily product that readers enjoy, but when a local newspaper experiences unexpected increases in costs, it must find a way to adjust. This week is one such example. 

The Standard-Examiner has found an advertiser to help offset the cost of the color comics page, and, as of Friday, March 30, color has been restored to the comics section Monday through Saturday.