/ 1 January 2002

Newspapers lose seven percent of ad revenues

The global newspaper industry saw a seven percent decline in advertising revenues in 2001, while circulations rose a scant 0,4% a study published on Monday by the World Association of Newspapers showed.

The study, presented at the 55th World Newspaper Congress, indicated that newspapers’ share in the world advertising market stabilised for the first time in 15 years while the Internet sites of newspapers continued to benefit strongly from growing traffic.

Although newspaper sales in the United States were steady last year, advertising revenues dropped 11,5%.

In the European Union, nine out of the 15 member countries registered a fall in newspaper circulations. Eight EU countries saw advertising revenues decrease and only three saw an increase.

But in Japan advertising revenue rose 7,8% in 2001 while in China it increased 5,9%, resulting in a 64% increase over the last five years. – Sapa-AFP