Online newspapers tempt readers

[icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu]

The number of newspaper websites around the world has doubled since 1999, a
study has found. There has been a tremendous boom in the consumption of
online editions. Timothy Balding, director general of World Association of
Newspapers said web audiences for newspapers have grown by 350% over the
last five years. Total global circulation was down slightly for the year in
the 208 countries surveyed by the Paris-based association, which represents
18,000 newspapers. But over the last five years, newspaper sales worldwide
went up by 4.75%. Well over one billion people now read a newspaper every
day. Europeans are buying fewer newspapers. Circulation fell in 13 of the 15
"old" European Union countries, excluding the new members who joined in May.
The biggest drop was in Ireland, followed by the UK. But although sales have
declined in many mature markets, some developing markets are still strong.
Newspaper sales were up by over 4% in China, the world's biggest market, and
by an impressive 9% in India.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3767267.stm