Imelda Alcantara, head of operations of Inquirer Interactive
How swift time flies. It was two years ago when the decision to pivot Cebu Daily News or CDN from print to digital was made, one that took months of deliberation because we were unsure then if the market was ready for such a shift. But twenty four months and several community quarantines after, as we look back to that pivotal day on January 1, 2019 when CDN switched from print to online, we can proudly say with the benefit of wisdom, that we made the right decision.
In its new form, CDN Digital swiftly took the top spot in social media for its social first breaking news strategy and for being right there at the scene livestreaming events as they happen. From less than half a million followers in Facebook, we now have close to two million followers and growing. Twitter and Instagram continue to bring more readers to our site as well.
Our pageviews have doubled, our users have tripled and they are reading more pages per session. At the height of the lockdown, we saw our traffic reach unprecendented levels as more readers look for news about how the government is handling the pandemic, health and safety regulations, where to get aid, which essential establishments are open, how to stay positive and keep oneself mentally and physically sound.
Apart from the fact that CDN Digital is now more readily accessible anytime, anywhere, CDN Digital has kept to its DNA as a trusted source of news and information about Cebu and its environs. It is a go-to site for homesick Cebuanos living abroad and in other parts of the country.
It is a place for showcasing the best of Cebu, its colorful culture, heritage and travel destinations which have global appeal.
We would not have achieved all these milestones in such a short span of time without the support of our dear readers and the trust of advertising partners. Thank you for making CDN Digital a part of your every day.
We are proud of our talented and hardworking team. The past year has not been easy for a lot of businesses, but our team showed their true grit, resilience and dedication to their craft and their commitment to the company. Through the best and worst of times, it is people pulling together and helping each other that is the ultimate ingredient to success. We have that in you.
Congratulations and happy 2nd anniversary to the CDN Digital team!
Here’s to more record breaking numbers to come.
Imelda C. Alcantara
Head of Operations, Inquirer Interactive, Inc.