Did you know that more than 5 billion people around the globe have mobile devices, and over half of these connections are smartphones? According to the Pew Research Center, ownership of mobile devices is even more pronounced in the United States, with smartphone ownership among Americans increasing from 35 percent in 2011 to 81 percent in 2019. In addition, the Pew Research Center cites that along with a vast majority (96 percent) of Americans owning cellphones of some kind, they also own a range of other information devices that include desktop or laptop computers (nearly 75 percent), tablets (about 50 percent), and e-reader devices (about 50 percent). This plethora of information devices creates an abundance of access to information, immediately and easily.
We now live in a world where digital publishing is prevalent, so it is important for us at the Minneapolis Fed to more effectively engage our key audiences through various digital platforms. We will be doing this by making a few critical changes to our communication formats, which include going digital-only with Banking in the Ninth and redesigning our website.
Our December 2019 issue will be the final printed edition sent via U.S. mail. Future issues of Banking in the Ninth will be available in digital-only format. To keep receiving the kinds of articles and insights you’re used to in Banking in the Ninth, please subscribe.
Not only will the digital-only format improve the timeliness of our content, but, more importantly, this transition is part of a new focus and emphasis we’re placing on more effectively engaging our key audiences, like you. In addition to seeing a new publication, you’ll also see that we’ve completely redesigned our website and even refreshed our visual identity.
This new way of communicating, which we unveiled at the start of 2020, is based on our mission to serve the public by pursuing an economy that works for all of us.
We want to more clearly communicate with you and the public. With the economy as our focus and public service as our north star, our communications should demonstrate that we’re active, engaged with our communities, and serious about fulfilling our dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment. This transition will give you easier access to more news and information about banking, be it rules and regulations or research and data. Please visit minneapolisfed.org/banking to experience our new approach.
I’d love to hear your feedback: mpls.src.outreach@mpls.frb.org. So, while what we’ve known as Banking in the Ninth is going away in paper format, be assured that the Minneapolis Fed’s commitment to communicating with you will get even stronger and easier to access. Again, don't forget to subscribe.