• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, May 17, 2007

Newspaper Industry Proclaimed "Vibrant, Growing"

According to recent provisional data from the World Association of Newspapers Paid-for newspaper circulation went up 1.9 percent year-on-year to more than 510 million paid-for copies in 2006, and the number of new paid-for titles grew to more than 11,000 for the first time in history.

Gavin O'Reilly, President of WAN and Chief Operating Officer of Independent News & Media Ltd., said "The prognosis for newspapers is actually quite different to conventional wisdom... Those of us in the newspaper business are very confident in the future... producing relevant and compelling products for our local markets, aggregating growing audiences and showcasing them to advertisers."

Based on preliminary figures from more than 200 countries and territories, to be published next month: 

• Paid-for circulations grew 1.9 percent over 12 months and 8.7 percent over five years. With free newspapers, global circulation grew 4.3 percent year-on-year.
• Free daily newspaper circulation more than doubled over five years, to 40.8 million copies a day
• More than 1.4 billion people now read a newspaper daily
• Paid-for daily titles surpassed 11,000

Print is the biggest advertising medium in the world, says the report, with a 42 percent share. Newspapers alone are the second largest, with 29.4 percent of global advertising spend. 

• Advertising revenues rose 4 percent in 12 months and 15.6 percent over the past five years
• More than 6 billion US dollars have been invested in newspaper printing and production equipment in the last 18 months

O'Reilly noted that "Hidden in those figures is the fact that newspapers... actually represent more than the combined advertising value of radio, cinema, magazines and the internet."

The full presentation can be downloaded here.