Before coming to the Curial Office of Communications in 2022, I had the privilege of working at WCMH-TV NBC4 for more than 20 years. To set the stage, my employment in the newsroom began just after Y2K. Having survived what we all thought could have been the end of modern civilization when the calendar flipped from 1999 to 2000, the digital revolution started peeking over the horizon. Almost instantly, it moved with the ferocity of a tilt-a-whirl. Everything was becoming digital. In the news world, both in print and TV, the industry was evolving at such a speed that many smaller stations and newspapers couldn’t compete. Daily tasks were more efficient, some automated, which resulted in the significant downsizing of newsroom staffs across the nation.

At the same time, the viewers’ daily routines, which normally would land them in front of the television from 5 p.m. to after prime time every day or cracking open the newspaper over coffee, were fading. Viewers became users and now had access to news 24/7 on websites, primitive live streaming and something called social media. The days of people staying glued to their televisions to watch sagas like baby Jessica falling into a well and the emotional rescue that captivated the nation were a thing of the past.

I distinctly recall sitting in my news director’s office at the advent of social media discussing a website called “Twitter.” He speculated that social media was a passing fad and that we should not spend much time or energy on it. Everybody makes mistakes. I don’t think many people realized the monumental shift that was thrust upon all of us, globally, in every industry, as well as in home life.

Over 25 years later, not only has social media not fizzled out, but the digital sphere has become so ingrained in our day to day that it is subconsciously accepted as a prerequisite to living daily life. At times, that’s frustrating to those of us who remember the good old days before the internet and smartphones. However, when we look at this through the eyes of faith, the aspects of the digital sphere are filled with incredible tools to reach humanity with the love of Jesus Christ.

The Curial offices of the Diocese of Columbus have the responsibility to be good stewards of what is entrusted to us by the clergy and laity. Spreading the gospel through a news resource takes at least two things; a willing heart that says “Yes,” and funding . We are tasked with routinely evaluating and reevaluating stewardship, operations and practices. What does that have to do with the digital sphere? A lot.

Just before the flip of the calendar to 2026, the Office of Communications executed major overhauls on both the Diocese of Columbus and The Catholic Times websites. The changes allow for a more beautiful showcasing of content, accessible resources and improved real-time reporting. Maintaining the sites is more efficient and straightforward, and as an added perk, the operational costs have been slashed by 80%. In an age where everything is getting more expensive, this might sound too good to be true, but it is reality. It has taken the hard work of several diocesan staff over three years to get to this point. We’re proud of it.

Over the past two years, we’ve seen an explosion in online consumption of The Catholic Times. Not only are we seeing user traffic from the United States, but across the globe. Believe it or not, the eyes of the world are on the 23 counties of the Diocese of Columbus.

Taking all of this into consideration, we are excited to move to the next chapter in the history of The Catholic Times, an all-digital publication. The conversation to move to an all-digital format has been going on for the better part of a decade. While it is bittersweet to end the physical paper, it is the right time to shift our focus completely to the digital sphere. With the digital tools available to us, we have not only the exciting opportunity to change, but as good stewards, the responsibility.

In his Pillars of the “New Evangelization” homily at the Evangelization Leadership Summit in 2023, Bishop Earl Fernandes said, “Working together, we can better use the new technology to evangelize. The pulpit and the church bulletin will simply not do. New technologies, including marketing and data technologies and digital targeting of youth will be necessary.”

For many years, The Catholic Times newspaper has been one of the primary tools for communicating with the laity across the 23 counties of the diocese as well as providing award-winning coverage about the beauty of our parishes, schools and people. That mission hasn’t changed. Rather, we are refocusing our resources to be able to reach as many people as possible in a more cost-effective manner.

The Office of Communications is exploring several more ways to expand the digital presence and reach of the diocese. I’ll keep you updated as these exciting initiatives come to fruition in the coming months.

Lastly, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who reads The Catholic Times, both in print and digitally. We are proud of our talented writers, reporters and contributors, and are overjoyed to be able to share award-winning local Catholic content with you.

Jason M. Mays is the senior director for the Curial Office of Communications.