(Michael P. Smith)

The constant drum beat of stories about newspaper decline obscures the facts that newspapers are growing and readership is up – even in the United States.


Consider these facts from the World Association of Newspapers:

--Globally, combined paid-for and free newspaper circulation increased 9.95 percent over five years, and 2.36 percent over one year, in 2005, the most recent period for which full-year figures are available. North America showed a five-year circulation increase of 0.70 percent and was virtually stable over one year. Europe showed a 2.12 percent increase over five years and a one-year increase of 4.18 percent.

--The total number of paid-for daily newspaper titles worldwide jumped over the 10,000 mark for the first time in history, to 10,104, a 13 percent growth from 2001, when there were 8,930 titles.

--Free daily newspaper circulation more than doubled from 2001 to 2005, from 12 million copies in 2001 to 28 million in 2005, an increase of 137 percent.

--In Europe, combined paid-for and free newspaper circulation increased 14.24 percent in the five years to 2005, and 3.31 percent over one year. The number of new titles grew 15.86 percent over five years, and were stable over one year.

--In North America, newspaper circulation increased 0.7 percent over five years, and marginally declined 0.04 percent over one year. The number of titles declined 0.84 percent over five years but increased 1.21 percent over one year.

What does it mean that titles increased in the United States? There has been a quiet revolution in new daily launches. The WAN data is from its annual World Press Trends.