December 18, 2008 - The Printing Industry Center at Rochester Institute of Technology announces the addition of the Democrat and Chronicle as an industry partner. The Gannett Inc. owned metropolitan daily newspaper serving Rochester, N.Y., joins 12 other companies and associations pledging support to the center's operation.

Supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Printing Industry Center at RIT is dedicated to the growth and profitability of the printing industry. The center addresses industry concerns through research initiatives and educational outreach programs.

"The issues impacting the news publishing industry are top of mind at RIT in both our research and teaching," says Frank Cost, associate dean of RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and co-director of the Printing Industry Center. "We are excited the Democrat and Chronicle has come on board as an industry partner so we can work together to examine the changing newspaper industry."

Brian Ambor, vice president of operations at the Democrat and Chronicle adds: "The partnership between the Democrat and Chronicle and the Printing Industry Center at RIT comes at an ideal time for us. The newspaper industry is currently being challenged by the economic climate and new technology. This partnership will help us identify and better understand emerging trends and help our multimedia company adapt to those trends. Beyond the Printing Industry Center at RIT this partnership also provides us time for important dialogue with other business partners from an idea, information exchange and relationship-building standpoint. We will truly learn and grow together."

RIT's School of Print Media has altered its curriculum offerings in its news media program and is focused on strengthening its strategic and curriculum partnerships with such entities as the Democrat and Chronicle, Chicago Tribune and Scripps Howard Foundation.

"The printed newspaper will be around for a long time, however, its format will continue to change to reduce costs and maintain/increase circulation among the core audience," says Twyla Cummings, Paul and Louise Miller Distinguished Professor in RIT's School of Print Media. "The goal of producing a digital newspaper where subscribers can customize their content may become a reality. To reflect these trends, our curriculum has shifted from a production-oriented one to a focus on the multi-media aspect of news content."

The center's other industry partners are Adobe Systems Inc., Avery Dennison, Eastman Kodak Co., Heidelberg, Hewlett-Packard Co., NewPage Corp., NPES, Scripps Howard Foundation, Standard Register, VIGC, U.S. Government Printing Office and Xerox Corp.

The Printing Industry Center at RIT is a joint program of RIT's School of Print Media and RIT's E. Philip Saunders College of Business. To learn more, visit http://print.rit.edu.