Inland study shows mixed results

Inland Press Association’s latest Five-Year Trend Analysis study, shows reasons for both pessimism and optimism in the newspaper industry.
The study found that declining circulation, advertising and classified revenue have been eroding the profits at U.S. dailies over the past five years. The under 15,000-circulation category was the only circulation group to show growth, notching a 2.5 percent gain in gross revenues during the five-year period ending in 2008.
Overall, daily newspapers of all circulation sizes have experienced double-digit and even triple-digit declines in operating profit, the study found.
The steepest decline in profits occurred in the 25,001- to 50,000-circulation group, which, together, averaged a 190 percent decline from 2004 to 2008.
Inland’s analysis includes financial data on more than 120 papers across the country.
Inland’s Trend Analysis was co-sponsored by Interactive Newsmedia Financial Executives. For a full copy of the report, “2004-2008 Trend Analysis: From the National Cost & Revenue Study for Daily Newspapers,” contact Tim Mather at (847) 795-0380.