This document analyzes statistics on the print newspaper industry in the United States. It shows that while newspaper circulation and readership numbers have declined over the past decade, especially among younger age groups, newspapers are still widely read with circulation around 45 million in 2011. Advertising revenues for print newspapers have also fallen in recent years. However, some argue that print media is not dying but rather evolving to a new format. The document concludes that print remains an important part of the news media landscape, though digital formats are increasingly popular among younger consumers.

1. Is Print Really
Dying?
Facts, Figures and Findings
(based in US)

2. Top 10 Daily
Newspapers
• Wall Street Journal
• USA Today
• New York Times
• New York Daily News
• Los Angeles Times
• San Jose Mercury News
• New York Post
• Washington Post
• Chicago Tribune
• Dallas Morning News

3. The Numbers
No. of daily newspapers in US (2001 – 2011)
1480
1460
1440
1420
1400
Newspapers
1380
1360
1340
1320
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

4. According to Pew Research
Centre, only 33% of consumers
would miss their local newspaper if
it closed.

5. Money Matters
Change in Ad Revenues (2011 – 2012) [%]
20
16.6
15
10.1
10
5.4
5
Revenue
0
-5
-5.9
-10
-10.4
-15

6. Graying of Readership
Newspaper Readership By Age in 2013 (%)
60
50 48
40
30
30
Readership
20 16
10 12
10 6
0
18-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65 Plus

7. Over the years
Readership over the years (%)
70 63
60 59
60 54
49 49
50
40
Readership
30
20
10
0
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

8. Readership by Education
80
70
60
50
High school
40
Graduate
30
Post graduate
20
10
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

9. Far and wide
Circulation of newspapers by year (000)
60,000 55,578 55,185
53,345
50,742
40,000 45,653
44,421
20,000
Circulation
0
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
2011

10. Findings
 While ad revenues and investment in the print
media depict a steady deadline, the circulation
of newspapers is still not at a dangerous low.
 Proponents of print media claim that print isn’t
dying, it’s evolving.
 Nonetheless, an increasing number of print
readers continue to be older than 45 years old
while people in the 18-24 age category prefer to
consume news digitally.

11. References
 Pew Research Centre [www.pewresearch.org]
 State of the Media [www.stateofthemedia.org]
Riffat Rashid
BSMS 6B
Multimedia Journalism