Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Print circulations continue to decline
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- Figure 1: Forecast of regional newspaper annual print circulations, 2014-24
- Online audiences on rapid rise
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- Figure 2: Forecast of digital regional newspaper networks’ daily unique browser numbers, 2014-24
- Journalism review signposts sustainable future
- Pressure on print sees more papers close...
- ...but new titles keep on coming
- The consumer
- Local papers still reaching mass audiences
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- Figure 3: Frequency of reading regional newspapers, April 2019
- Names and faces keep readers coming
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- Figure 4: Regional newspaper content considered most worth paying for online, April 2019
- Kind hearts but no coronets
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- Figure 5: Sentiment towards local and regional newspapers, April 2019
- Readers prefer to ‘pay’ with their data
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- Figure 6: Registration with regional newspapers online, April 2019
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Unbundled content: breaking up or breaking out?
- The facts
- The implications
- Readers as editors
- The facts
- The implications
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Print circulation continues downward spiral
- Digital reach sustains double-digit growth
- Cairncross Review offers new vision for the future
- Social and search remain key rivals for eyeballs
Market Size and Forecast
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- No end in sight for print circulation decline
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- Figure 7: Forecast of regional newspaper annual print circulations, 2014-24
- Online reach remains on rapid rise
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- Figure 8: Forecast of digital regional newspaper networks’ daily unique browser numbers, 2014-24
- Forecasts
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- Figure 9: Forecast of regional newspaper annual print circulations, 2014-24
- Figure 10: Forecast of digital regional newspaper networks’ daily unique browser numbers, 2014-24
- Forecast methodology
Market Drivers
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- Search for new business models continues
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- Figure 11: Newspaper subscriptions, December 2018
- Nine-point plan for a sustainable future of news
- Pivot to privacy presents new social media challenge
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- Figure 12: Platforms used most often to follow local news, 2018
- Digital devices moving all demographics online
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- Figure 13: Devices used to read online newspapers, December 2018
Companies and Brands – What You Need to Know
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- Pressure on print forces more closures
- Free weeklies in most rapid decline
- New titles continue to launch
- AI technologies free up reporting resources
Market Share
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- Closures and consolidation remain on the cards
- Free market leaders take edge off dailies’ decline
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- Figure 14: Average print circulation of leading daily regional newspapers, 2017 and 2018
- Weeklies sector targeted by year’s biggest launch
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- Figure 15: Average print circulation of leading paid-for weekly regional newspapers, 2017 and 2018
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- Figure 16: Average print circulation of leading free weekly regional newspapers, 2017 and 2018
Launch Activity and Innovation
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- New titles great and small
- AI enables more legwork and brain power
- Twitter campaign looks to mobilise public affection
- Big beasts start giving back
- Can membership foster a new sense of community?
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Regional press still reaching mass audiences
- Names and faces keep selling for locals
- Kind hearts but no coronets
- Readers prefer to ‘pay’ with their data
Reading Habits
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- Dailies in need of more everyday interest
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- Figure 17: Frequency of reading daily regional newspapers, May 2018 and April 2019
- Weeklies fit neatly into readers’ routines
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- Figure 18: Frequency of reading weekly regional newspapers, May 2018 and April 2019
- Over-65s still prepared to pay
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- Figure 19: Types of regional newspapers read, May 2018 and April 2019
Newspaper Content
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- Sport top of the paid-for table
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- Figure 20: Regional newspaper content considered most worth paying for online, April 2019
- Sport faces most competitive playing field
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- Figure 21: Interest in regional newspaper sports coverage, April 2019
- Human interest takes in the good, the bad and the ugly truth
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- Figure 22: Interest in regional newspaper stories about local people, April 2019
Valuing Regional Newspapers
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- Britons open their hearts, if not their wallets
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- Figure 23: Sentiment towards local and regional newspapers, April 2019
- Subscribers keen to make the headlines
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- Figure 24: Non-content incentives to subscribing or registering with a local or regional newspaper online, April 2019
Future Funding
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- Readers ready to register
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- Figure 25: Registration with regional newspapers online, April 2019
- Paywalls raise risk of social divide
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- Figure 26: Willingness to pay for digital access to regional newspapers, April 2019
- Donations’ full potential still to be explored
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- Figure 27: Financial donations in support of regional newspapers, April 2019
- Subscription buffet a better option than paying à la carte
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- Figure 28: Preferred payment models for digital access to regional newspapers, April 2019
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviation and Supporting Information
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- Data sources
- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
Appendix – Market Size and Forecast
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- Fan chart forecast
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- Figure 29: Forecast of regional newspaper annual print circulations, 2019-24
- Figure 30: Forecast of digital regional newspaper networks’ daily unique browser numbers, 2019-24
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