Newspaper marketing body: Australian papers are ‘perfectly positioned’ for the future
The marketing body for the Australian newspaper industry has today published a report on the state of the medium claiming that advertising has experienced double digit growth, sales have held up and that papers are “perfectly positioned” for the future.
The upbeat report from publisher-funded The Newspaper Works comes shortly after questions were raised about the circulation picture of The Age in Melbourne and also of the Sydney Morning Herald. Yesterday, OMD’s head of print Simon Davies warned that agencies were losing confidence in what the audited paid numbers for newspapers actually meant.
But today, Newspaper Works released its The Facts About Australian Newspapers Report.
Newspaper Works CEO Tony Hale, said: “This report highlights the relative strength of newspapers and how newspapers have rebounded well following the GFC. New distribution of newspaper content is reaching more audiences than ever before, while the different newspaper platforms, print and digital offer complementary reader experiences. What’s more, newspapers are the least impacted by fragmenting audiences.
“In just five months, for example, more than 330,000 newspaper brand apps have been downloaded, which shows that people still value newspapers however they are delivered.”
According to the report, “CEASA figures showed that newspapers reported double digit growth of 11.3% in national advertising in January to June 2010 vs January to June2009. National advertising is now significantly higher than pre-GFC levels.”
It also highlights: “Audit Bureau of Circulations figures show that sales of newspapers in Australia have eased by less than 1% per year over the last 10 years, compared with double digit declines in the major English-speaking markets overseas.”
Hale said: “These are powerful facts and show that the debate on the ‘demise of newspapers’ has been turned on its head. It’s now no longer about whether newspapers survive but how perfectly positioned newspapers are to grab a significant slice of an exciting future.”
cue the predictable comments
User ID not verified.
That last paragraph is 5-star spin. I’m almost motivated to ditch that pesky ol’ smartphone and run out and buy a tree version of the local paper. Almost.
User ID not verified.
To the first under 30 – you’re a wanker.
I have an iphone. And my friends do. I read the printed newspaper, and my friends do as well. Most of us are under 30. And my 32 year old friends – hell, they read them too!
Why don’t you shove that smart phone right up your ass alongwith your opinion. It won’t be the first electronic device up there.
User ID not verified.
I like optimists. Newspaper Works are world-class optimists.
Twenty-something Gen Ys crack me up. It’s all about you and your little world isn’t it. Well I’m sure your little gang will save newspapers single-handedly.
User ID not verified.
So to recap….
Paper is in decline, but worse, it’s a very agonizing painful and slow death. They have even created a committee to tell them they’re not dying too quickly and back this up with statistics….
Embarrassing denial.
User ID not verified.
26 y.o.: Please don’t be so free with your advice about sticking things up bottoms.
Were you to be heeded by senior editorial execs at News and Fairfax there would be a massive outbreak of brain damage.*
(*does not apply to The Age, where brain damage is a prequisite for senior employment)
User ID not verified.
Can you name the advertising agency helped The Newspaper Works come up with this glowing prediction.
I’m sure the tobacco industry would love to hire them!
User ID not verified.
Very interesting components to discuss.Great point and prospective.. thanks for sharing.
User ID not verified.