Some 1,000 more journalists worked in the regional press in 2006 than did so in 2005.
This was one of the key findings of the Newspaper Society’s annual survey of regional newspaper publishers.
The NS findings were based on a survey to which 77 per cent of regional press titles responded.
It found that 12,045 staff were employed in editorial roles in 2005 compared with 13,115 in 2006. Some 618 were employed in online publishing or web design (compared with 582 the year before). Total staffing increased from 43,554 to 49,246.
The total operating profit for regional newspaper publishers in 2006 was estimated at £848 million.
Some 16 newspaper titles launched in the last year.
According to the NS survey the regional press now comprises: 85 publising groups, 246 publishing centres, 1,303 newspaper titles, 755 stand-alone magazines or niche publications, 1102 websites, 36 radio stations and two TV stations.
Total turnover for the regional press in 2006 was £3.874 billion – of which, £2.834 billion came from advertising and £595 million came from circulation.
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