DESPITE many people turning to the internet for their daily dose of news and entertainment, Ireland is still a nation of newspaper readers.
Sales of newspapers are not declining to the same extent at home as in other parts of the world, according to a new report that shows Ireland’s deep-rooted traditional newspaper following has spared the print industry the worst effects of migration to the web.
The report — Outlook For Newspaper Publishing In The Digital Age — was commissioned by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). Ann O’Connell, partner at PwC Ireland, said: “Ireland has a deep-rooted traditional newspaper following and as a result the migration from print to online media is not expected to impact the sector to the same extent as other countries such as the US, where the newspaper industry is facing significant difficulties.
“It is likely that Irish consumers will, for the foreseeable future, continue to place a significant value on the commentary and opinion provided by the wellestablished newspapers.”
The issues being faced by local and regional newspapers are mixed. In Britain there has been widespread closure of local and regional newspapers, less money being spent on advertising and ongoing migration of readers to online sources.
However it is not all doom and gloom. Miss O’Connell added: “Despite the current difficulties this is an exciting time to be part of the newspaper industry as it continues to evolve to meet the requirements of its readers and their demands for an old world content delivered to them via new world technology.”
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