Source: MediaDailyNews, “Total Newspaper Readership Grows” by Erik Sass, 7/21/08.
Sass cites a MRI survey done for the Newspaper National Network. Data looks at print and online reading. A 2.1% increase in readership was cited. A Scarborough Research report confirmed that Sunday papers are top places for coupons. My dad was a “coupon dude”; he’d buy multiple papers just for the coupons.
An earlier post from MDN by Erik Sass reported on the job cuts in the paper industry, “Grim Reaper: Newspapers Cut 3,500+ Jobs in Two Months,” 7/18/08. He deemed it the, “Midsummer Massacre.” Ink everywhere, o the horror.
I fished around on the BLS & glanced at the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition for “News Analysts, Reporters, and Correspondents.” The BLS paints a rosy picture. The latest wage info for reporters and correspondents from the Occupational Employment Statistics is from May 2007.
If readership is up why all the slashing?
I thought I heard a reference from PEJ on NPR. Sure enough, there is a new post, “The Changing Newsroom.” It examines cutbacks, citizen reporters, and future directions. It provides pie charts on the cutbacks.
