Newspapers: down but not out

Despite the fact that newspaper sales in the UK have declined by nearly 30% in the last 50 years, Andrew Green, director of strategic resources at ZenithOptimedia, shows that the decline has been far from even, and that newspapers are still a successful business.

Newspapers: Down but Not Out

Andrew GreenZenithOptimedia

Commercial TV did not kill newspapers when it launched in 1955, although perhaps, in time, the internet will. Around 125 million copies of national newspapers were sold or distributed in the UK every week back then. In the first six months of 2004, the number was 29% lower at just over 89 million.

So, in simple terms, newspapers look to be in long-term decline. However, as Oscar Wilde long ago reminded us, 'Truth is rarely pure and never simple'.

First of all, the decline has been relatively recent. Newspaper sales were fairly...

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