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Potpourri of World Press Trends From New SFN Flash

Potpourri of World Press Trends From New SFN Flash

According to SFN Flash, a new monthly update of World Press Trends published by the World Association of Newspapers, newspaper executives in the US are attempting to build on their products aimed at young adults and other demographic groups, prompting one trade magazine to call 2004 "The Year of the Niche."

Some of the 93 topics in the January edition of the SFN Flash include

- Several leading industry forecasters have issued optimistic forecasts, including one by Zenith Optimedia which forecasts a 4.6 percent increase in advertising expenditure, in current prices, in 2004 and 2005.

- The Wall Street Journal has begun counting online subscribers in its circulation figures, and led the United State's biggest newspapers with a 16.1 percent circulation gain for the six-month period ending in September.

- Quality newspapers in many markets are abandoning broadsheet formats for smaller tabloid -- and, in the case of the United Kingdom, selling tabloid versions alongside the broadsheet.

- The International Herald Tribune will no longer accept advertising for escort services.

- Categorizing people's interests according to their age is becoming a marketing faux pas as the notion of youth, and "youthful habits," is no longer so clear-cut, claims Howard Beale, a partner at communications agency TheFishCanSing.

- China has suspended the publication of 673 state-run newspapers as part of its shake-up of the media industry. Under the new regulations, newspapers must be financially independent from the central government.

- The online search industry may reach nearly $7 billion in worldwide revenue by 2007, compared to $1.4 billion in 2002. The industry will grow at a compounded rate of 35 percent annually, according to 'Golden Search' report by U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Equity Research.

You can find out more here.

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