Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Chris White via Flickr/Creative Commons

Newspapers still losing readers but tabloids buck trend

There is “no evidence” of people switching from print to online newspapers in the past year, says survey.

EIGHTY PER CENT of adults are regular newspaper readers, a 2 per cent decline on the same period last year, according to figures from the Joint National Readership Survey (JNRS).

The JNRS’s 2011-12 report shows that 2.88 million adults read a newspaper regularly between June 2011 and May 2012 compared to 2.94 million last year, mirroring industry trends in the rest of the world.

However, the survey found there was “no evidence” of people switching from print to online newspapers in the past year.

Readership of The Irish Times was down 37,000 or 11 per cent to 287,000, while The Irish Independent recorded a decline of 35,000 or 7 per cent to 465,000. Readership of The Irish Examiner held steady at 169,000.

Although The Irish Daily Star recorded a readership of 348,000, down 24,000 or 6 per cent, readership at the other Irish tabloids was up. The Irish Sun was up 21,000 or 8 per cent to 297,000, The Irish Daily Mail was up 18,000 or 13 per cent to 159,000 while the Irish Mirror recorded a slight increaser of 1000 readers to 208,000.

Despite the declines, the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) said the latest figures showed that newspaper readership remained strong.

“These figures show that Irish newspaper readership remains very strong, in spite of factors such as the continuing recession and proliferation of other media,” said Frank Cullen of NNI.

“As an industry I would say we are encouraged but not surprised by the findings of the latest JNRS.”

Among Sunday Newspapers, readership also fell among most titles. The Sunday Independent recorded a readership of 914,000, down 57,000 or 5.9 per cent while the Sunday Times saw its readership fall by 33,000 or 8.2 per cent to 367,000. The Irish Mail on Sunday was up by 15,000 readers, or 5 per cent, to 345,000.

Readership figures record the total number of people who will read one paper as opposed to circulation figures, which record the number of papers in circulation on any given day.

New figures show falling circulation for most Irish daily newspapers>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 22 comments
Close
22 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy Edwards
    Favourite Billy Edwards
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 10:01 AM

    That Credit Union thing is a MASSIVE story, and one that needs to be shouted from the rooftops. HALF of the adults with less than 25 quid a week for themselves? That affects EVERYONE-every business in the country. It is a national emergency, and the Dail should do nothing else but discuss it and come up with a plan, before we all go under.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sasha Musgrave
    Favourite Sasha Musgrave
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 9:12 AM

    I am not surprised that people are struggling to pay their bills, and they really are, and the scumbags in the dail should realise this, and come out of their ivory towers now, it is time to face the people, and work with the people, and the government can no longer hide from the realities, otherwise it is only a mater of time until FG and labour fall. The people cannot take anymore, and they have demonstrated this in the marches and protests, that have taken part in March and April, and the government should take notice and do something about the state of the country and now would be a good time.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
    Favourite Andrea Rock Massey
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 10:29 AM

    Is anyone else having trouble opening up the individual articles? I haven’t been able to open the Children’s hospital or Norway Killing stories..

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Ó Domhnaill
    Favourite Con Ó Domhnaill
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 12:35 PM

    You are not alone Andrea – Mary Harney and James Reilly haven’t been able to open the Children’s hospital either!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Ó Domhnaill
    Favourite Con Ó Domhnaill
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 12:32 PM

    Friends of mine were turned down for a loan from their Credit Union even though they were regular savers. The husband was offered a driving job and they needed just a few thousand Euro to buy and insure a small car. They were told to re-apply in six months. So they had no option but to go to Moneylenders – who are charging them a massive 67% interest. For a lot of people bank loans are impossible to get, their only realistic chance of getting a loan is from their Credit Union, so if the Credit Union’s are now shutting the door in people’s faces the moneylenders will be rubbing their hands.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ally Collyer
    Favourite Ally Collyer
    Report
    Apr 16th 2012, 12:26 PM

    We had problems getting on to the 9 a 9 page!! and this is the 2nd attempt at posting this comment!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds