Number of new newspapers grows 'significantly'
Global newspaper circulation rose nearly 2% in 2006 and the number of newspaper titles also increased significantly, according to provisional data revealed today by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
Paid-for newspaper circulation went up 1.9% year-on-year to more than 510 million paid-for copies in 2006 and the number of new paid-for titles grew to more than 11,000 for the first time in history, WAN announced during presentations in London to investors, analysts and media correspondents.
"The prognosis for newspapers is actually quite different to conventional wisdom," said Gavin O'Reilly, President of WAN and Chief Operating Officer of Independent News & Media Ltd.
"Those of us in the newspaper business are very confident in the future -- a future that is built on doing what we do best -- producing relevant and compelling products for our local markets, aggregating growing audiences and showcasing them to advertisers," he said.
The numbers presented Tuesday are based on preliminary figures gathered by WAN from more than 200 countries and territories -- everywhere newspapers are published -- for its annual World Press Trends survey, which will be published next month at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.
