Most of Britain’s local daily papers may be losing readers, but the
regional press as a whole is in rude health, claims the Newspaper
Society’s annual report.
The trade body of regional press owners
revealed that the sector maintained its share of the advertising market
(at 20.4 per cent) in 2004 while all other media sectors decreased.
Advertising spend now tops £3bn, more than any other print sector.
According
to NS president Stephen Parker the regional press is “more dynamic and
innovative today than it has ever been in its 300-year history”.
“Publishers
are layering their local markets to give readers a choice of channels
to access local news and information and advertisers extra
opportunities to target local communities,” said Parker.
According
to the NS, the number of journalists employed in the regional press has
increased from 8,000 in 1996 to a current total of 13,000.
Regional press in NUMBERS
40 million+ (85.4% of UK adult population): Readership
£3 billion: Advertising income
£700 million: Consumer spend on local newspapers
1,300: Number of newspapers
£2,903,522 (£2,028,857 from member subscriptions): Annual income of the Newspaper Society Source: Newspaper Society
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