USA and UK hardest hit by newspaper crisis
Die Situation auf dem Zeitungsmarkt bleibt weiterhin angespannt. Vor allem in den USA und Großbritannien sind die Verlage in den vergangenen Jahren mit massiven Auflagenrückgängen konfrontiert.
According to an OECD report cited by Pressetext, the two markets have suffered the sharpest declines. The British market has lost 25 percent of its circulation since 2007 and the US market 30 percent. Other nations that have been hit hard by the newspaper crisis are Greece (minus 20 percent), Italy (minus 18 percent) and Canada (minus 17 percent), according to the study. Overall, 20 out of 30 OECD countries had to contend with circulation losses during the period under review. Growth in the international newspaper market has weakened continuously since 2004 until it reached virtually zero in 2007. Only the developing countries recorded growth in some cases.
Unsurprisingly, the newspaper crisis also led to staff cuts. Publishers in the USA, the UK, the Netherlands and Spain were particularly affected. In the ten years between 1997 and 2007, for example, the number of employees in the newspaper industry in the USA fell from 403,355 to 356,943 - a drop of twelve percent. Since then, however, the situation has worsened. In the fall of 2009, for example, the New York Times had to cut 100 journalist jobs.
Positive impetus forecast for 2010
Despite the ongoing tense situation, the OECD report also signals hope for a slight recovery in the newspaper market. Positive impetus is also forecast for 2010. This is also confirmed by the latest figures from the US market, according to which the declines in recent months have slowed somewhat. It is also apparent that specialized titles are performing slightly better online than general newspapers. Print and the Internet are not a contradiction in terms. Web offerings are more of a supplement than a replacement for traditional print news.
Unsurprisingly, the newspaper crisis also led to staff cuts. Publishers in the USA, the UK, the Netherlands and Spain were particularly affected. In the ten years between 1997 and 2007, for example, the number of employees in the newspaper industry in the USA fell from 403,355 to 356,943 - a drop of twelve percent. Since then, however, the situation has worsened. In the fall of 2009, for example, the New York Times had to cut 100 journalist jobs.
Positive impetus forecast for 2010
Despite the ongoing tense situation, the OECD report also signals hope for a slight recovery in the newspaper market. Positive impetus is also forecast for 2010. This is also confirmed by the latest figures from the US market, according to which the declines in recent months have slowed somewhat. It is also apparent that specialized titles are performing slightly better online than general newspapers. Print and the Internet are not a contradiction in terms. Web offerings are more of a supplement than a replacement for traditional print news.
