Newspapers: Are sales going up or down?

For some time it has been reported, and claimed, in all sorts of quarters that blogging and new media is on the rise as, correspondingly, newspaper circulation and readership is on the decline. Well, if this item on is correct it is quite the opposite. Who to believe? Is it, once again, "statistics, statistics and damn lies?"

"Global newspaper circulation up 9.95 percent over five years and 2.36 percent over twelve months

Daily newspaper titles surpass 10,000 for first time in history

More than 450 million copies sold daily

In excess of 1.4 billion paid-newspaper readers

Total free daily circulation more than doubles in five years

Contrary to conventional wisdom, newspaper circulation is growing and new newspapers are being launched at a remarkable rate, new and revised data from the World Association of Newspapers shows.

Even in North America and Europe, where negative assumptions about the industry are widespread, both circulation and the number of new titles have increased, according to the updated data."

So claims World Association of Newspapers [a vested interest?] in this item on its web site.

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Mahler's Prodigal Son

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