Despite recurrent announcements of a dying newspaper industry, global circulations and reach continue to grow, reflecting many publishing innovations worldwide, and the essential role played by the press remains indisputable. As digital media gather strength in terms of penetration, usage and revenues, newspapers have extended their brands online and taken advantage of new opportunities presented by digital distribution channels to reach news audiences at all times and places, with relevant, compelling and personalised content.

In an environment where over the past 15 to 20 years, the definition of competition and media consumer demands have changed fundamentally, the newspaper industry has evolved. Even in the most developed markets, there has been a proliferation of new genres of newspapers, targeting new audience segments and generating creative marketing and distribution scenarios. And the surge of new, free titles thrust into the paid-for market is the result of many publishers rethinking the cover-price revenue model in place for more than 400 years. More and more newspapers are restructuring their newsrooms from print-only to multimedia in order to publish across channels efficiently, are investing in new technology and are developing targeted editorial products.

‘Newspaper publishers and journalists throughout the world face hardship, harassment or death for resolutely and unconditionally publishing news that matter.’

The shift from traditional news judgement to audience-focused, multimedia news judgement could be among the most striking developments of the past years. Today, providing readers with information and analyses that are of direct and immediate relevance and interest to them, clarifying important local and global issues and also standing as watchdogs for the community may have become even more critical for newspapers. Enabling readers to actively contribute with news material, personal accounts or reactions is as well part of this emerging dynamic.

Figure-wise, where does the newspaper industry stand?

Over the past five years, the combined global circulations of paid-for and free dailies grew by 14.76 per cent. In 2006, the number of paid-for titles reached a record 11,142 titles and their global circulations grew to 510.4 million copies a day, with all regions experiencing a rise in circulation except North America. Today, newspapers represent a US$180 billion industry globally and more than 1.4 billion people read a newspaper daily throughout the world.

India has led in the number of paid-for daily newspaper titles since 2003 when it surpassed the United States (respectively 2,130 and 1,437 titles in 2006). China leads in paid-for daily circulation (close to 99 million copies in 2006), with 25 out of the top 100 paid-for dailies being Chinese. The USA leads in the number of free daily newspaper titles and advertising revenues.

Newspapers are second to television as the world’s largest advertising medium, surpassing the combined advertising value of radio, cinema, magazines and the Internet. In 2006, newspapers secured 29.4 per cent of the global advertising market, which was estimated to be worth some US$425 billion. Looking to the future, the global newspaper advertising revenue is forecast to grow by 17 per cent to 2010, increasing in all regions, despite the Internet strengthening its market share each year.

Ultimately, beyond trends and figures, one should remember that newspaper publishers and journalists throughout the world face hardship, harassment or death for resolutely and unconditionally publishing news that matter.