Top U.S. Newspapers Show Huge Circulation Losses
Apple's iPad Points to Future as Online News Revenue Continues to Increase
Of the top 25 papers, The Wall Street Journal is the only publication to see growth. The number one rated paper's sales are up 0.5 percent over last year with a total circulation of 2 million. In second place, USA Today fell 13.58 percent--with its circulation dropping to 1.83 million. The New York Times, the third largest paper, reported an 8.5 percent decline in readership. The Dallas Morning News and the San Francisco Chronicle saw a discouraging drop in circulation of over 20 percent.
Online Revenue for Newpapers Expected to Increase
Even though 2009 was a very bad year for newspapers in general, there is a bright spot. Online revenue for newspapers is expected to grow in the coming months, and with new developments in technology (think Apple's iPad), some experts believe the trend toward online news may very well save the newspaper industry.
News Corporation CEO and Founder Rupert Murdoch said during a National Press Club event at George Washington University, "If you have less newspapers and more of these [iPads]--it may well be the saving of the newspaper industry."
Newspaper Trends, the Environment and Technology
While Murdoch did not proclaim the end of physical newspapers, he did acknowledge that the industry is changing. Forward thinking publishers like Murdoch see the potential of online news delivery tools like iPad applications that offer paid news subscriptions, plus all the digital protection of Apple's iTunes distribution system.
Environmental issues are also playing a role in the push toward online news. Not only the paper needed to print newspapers, but also the chemicals used and the need to physically deliver the paper has caused many environmental groups to question the burden ink and paper news may be placing on the globe.
At the same time, proponents of newspapers like the Newspaper Association of America note that paper can be recycled, which reduces impacts on forests, reduces dependency on imported oil and reduces the need for more landfills.
Making the Move to Online News
Even after seeing an 8.7 percent drop in U.S. daily paid newspaper circulation, some die-hard ink and paper publishers may be hesitant to move toward an additional news delivery method. But as industry moguls like Murdoch have discovered, creating successful online business communities must be the goal of every news publication--if they want to survive.
Sources:
Virtual Press Room: FAS/FAX, Audit Bureau of Circulations
Like Newspaper Revenue, the Decline in Circ Shows Signs of Slowing, Editor and Publisher
Local Online Ad Spend Expected to Grow, Editor and Publisher
The Cost of the Free Press, George Washington University
Newspapers and the Environment, Newspaper Association of America
Published by Kim Linton
Kim Linton began her writing career in 2001 as a contributor for Ministrymaker Magazine. Kim's work has since been published on a variety of websites including Woman's Day and Intel, and featured on several... View profile
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44 Comments
Post a CommentNewspapers aren't all that current or important. They could be saved with human interest features
and perhaps a return to serial fiction, but no one wants to buy yesterday's news today.
That's fascinating.
Hmmmm, liberal papers losing readership.
It's a trend for sure!
Paper newspapers will not go away. Online readership will boom, but big newspaper companies will boom again when the economy progresses to more positive note.
I love reading the newspaper every morning, I agree with Patricia, there's nothing like holding the paper in your hands...
I am confounded on this issue. On one hand, the papers are seeing a backlash from several directions. First is the issue of not reporting from an unbiased perspective. Second, the quick access to everything thruogh the internet. And last, the economy. So quite a bit is their own fault for not being relevant to the readers. But I hate to see them go because if it is printed it cannot be retracted easily. Whereas the internet can be changed at a whim; which is dangerous for those who are supposed to be the watchdogs of our government and society. Great article, Kim.
I tried lining the bird cage with an iPad.... but it's just not the same! :) Seriously, with the way the Internet is expanding, I'd think that paper printed stuff would keep going down and down. (and I guess it is)
While I do avail myself of online news, there's just nothing line opening up a newspaper. I think the decline of print news is a crying shame, and I will do my part to keep it going as long as possible.
If the papers printed what most people actually wanted to read, they'd still be viable, in any form. I suspect the great majority of their hard-copy losses are due to the editorialized nature of the "news" they report. Good article. Thanks.