Women’s Press Collective Attends the Printing United Expo

Independent media must include printing

“I was intrigued by what WPC was doing in the education world of printing,” said Steiner, after being referred to Lisa Daniell and the Women’s Press Collective (WPC) by Jeff White of the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation in August.

After an introductory phone call, Steiner suggested that Daniell attend the Printing United Expo to learn more about the industry and to connect with Women In Print Alliance. Steiner was a major sponsor for Daniell to make the trip possible.

“I thought it would be wonderful for her to see what is currently happening in the print world,” said Steiner. “And as they say, the rest is history. She journeyed out to Las Vegas and made so many contacts to help propel Women’s Press Collective forward.”

WPC supporter Patrick Henry, a print trade journalist with Liberty or Death Communications, provided introductions to other Expo attendees in advance of the trip.

“Women’s Press Collective is keeping the medium of printing alive and well at the grass-roots level of the diverse group of communities that it serves,” explained Henry, who has covered the printing and graphic communication industry in the New York City metropolitan area for nearly 40 years.

One of Henry’s referrals, Chief Analyst for NAPCO Media Lisa Cross, met with Daniell on the last day of the Expo.

“Print was the first mass medium to democratize knowledge, amplify marginalized voices, expose injustice, preserve history and drive social change,” Cross said. “By supporting Women’s Press Collective, the print industry not only elevates underrepresented voices but also reaffirms print’s crucial role in advancing diverse perspectives, spreading ideas and fostering social progress.”

Concerns of Print Industry Professionals

Throughout the three-day event, Daniell canvassed booths of regional, national, and international graphic arts equipment, parts, and supply manufacturers and distributors. She talked with exhibitors about the state of the industry, the economy, the state of U.S. mainstream media, the importance of print, and WPC’s program for building independent, community-based press.

“The biggest concern expressed by most people I spoke with is the fact that younger generations are not going into the trades and that opportunities for training are shrinking, with trade schools and apprenticeship programs closing or closed,” Daniell reports.

“Some at the show related this to the overall loss of manufacturing in the U.S. and the stripping away of a production-based economy.”

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