[icernet] Online news readership beats offline news sales

[Arul Selvan]

A World Association of Newspapers (WAN) survey indicates that newspapers 
worldwide suffered a decline in paper sales last year, while Internet news 
consumption increased, reports ITWeb. In fact, Net news readership has been 
much stronger than anticipated and has tripled since 1999. In developed 
countries like Japan, America and Europe, circulation has dipped, notes
Timothy Balding, the director-general of WAN. Realizing the importance of
being online, 79% of newspapers have news sites in 2003, compared to only
52% in 1998. In Balding's words, "the print industry has weathered a
particularly challenging year and while we may see our paper-based
circulations under pressure; online readership is booming."

Source:
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/internet/2003/0306111207.asp?O=FPT?O=FPQQ