Newspaper Circulation Soars

BANGKOK (The Nation): Worldwide newspaper circulation soared nearly 10 percent in the five years to 2005, according to a study released in Paris yesterday. The study’s findings sharply challenge the widespread notion that the print media is moribund.

The World Association of Newspapers [WNA] said the number of paid-circulation daily papers reached a record 10,104 in 2005, an increase of 13 percent over 2001.

The group described its findings as “remarkable” and said they showed that newspapers were more than holding their own against competition from other media.

The study found that newspaper advertising revenues amounted to more than those from radio, magazines, the Internet, the cinema and billboards combined.

The Paris-based WNA represents 18,000 newspapers, 76 national associations based in 102 countries, 12 news agencies, and 10 regional and international press organizations.