Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Products covered in this Report
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Steep print circulation declines continue…
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- Figure 1: Forecast for annual circulation of print regional newspapers in the UK, 2012-22
- Figure 2: Forecast for annual circulation of print regional newspapers in the UK, 2012-22
- …but browser numbers keep growing
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- Figure 3: Forecast for the volume of daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2012-22
- Key players
- Trinity Mirror acquires Local World
- ‘Hyperlocal’ City of London free print newspaper launches
- Free weeklies launched by Newsquest
- Johnston Press campaigns on road deaths
- Trinity Mirror helps people find hyperlocal information
- Dundee Courier implements metered paywall
- The consumer
- One in five read a regional newspaper daily
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- Figure 4: Frequency read daily regional newspapers, May 2017
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- Figure 5: Frequency read weekly regional newspapers, May 2017
- Few are paying for digital newspapers
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- Figure 6: Types of regional newspapers read, May 2017
- Local TV news is the main alternative way people look for regional news
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- Figure 7: Alternative sources for regional news, May 2017
- Stories about local people by far the most popular topic
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- Figure 8: Preferred regional newspaper topics, May 2017
- Some show willingness to pay for digital
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- Figure 9: Willingness to pay for digital regional newspapers, May 2017
- A monthly subscription fee is the preferred payment model
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- Figure 10: Preferred online newspaper payment method, May 2017
- Six in 10 want more investigative journalism from regional papers
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- Figure 11: Attitudes towards regional newspapers, May 2017
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Looking beyond advertising for digital revenue
- The facts
- The implications
- People want more proactive journalism from regional newspapers
- The facts
- The implications
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Steep print circulation declines continue…
- …but browser numbers keep growing
- The smartphone becomes the primary device for reading news
- Local newspapers look to assert themselves among fake news controversy
- Section 40 causes press concerns as press regulation battle continues
- Details revealed regarding the BBC’s £8 million annual local press investment
Market Size and Forecast
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- Steep print circulation declines continue…
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- Figure 12: Forecast for annual circulation of print regional newspapers in the UK, 2012-22
- Figure 13: Forecast for annual circulation of print regional newspapers in the UK, 2012-22
- …but browser numbers keep growing
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- Figure 14: Forecast for annual circulation of print regional newspapers in the UK, 2012-22
- Figure 15: Forecast for the volume of daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2012-22
- The impact of Brexit
- Forecast methodology
Market Drivers
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- The smartphone becomes the primary device for reading news online
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- Figure 16: Devices used to read national news, October 2016
- Cover prices continue to rise
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- Figure 17: UK cover price for leading regional dailies, Monday-Friday, December 2015 and December 2016
- Local newspapers look to assert themselves amid fake news controversy
- Ad blockers pose a growing threat to advertising revenue
- Section 40 causes press concerns as regulation battle continues
- Details revealed regarding the BBC’s £8 million annual local press investment
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- Evening titles see sharpest circulation declines
- Trinity Mirror acquires Local World
- New print newspapers are being introduced
- ‘Hyperlocal’ City of London free print newspaper launches
- New free weeklies launched by Newsquest
- Dundee Evening Telegraph introduces new Saturday edition
- Johnston Press campaigns on road deaths
- Trinity Mirror targets London football fans with new website
- Trinity Mirror helps people find hyperlocal information
- Dundee Courier implements metered paywall
Market Share
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- Further print declines at major regional newspapers
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- Figure 18: Average print circulation for leading print titles, 2015 and 2016
- Major declines for paid newspapers while free papers have mixed results
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- Figure 19: Average circulation of top 10 paid weekly regional newspapers, July-Dec 2015 and 2016
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- Figure 20: Average circulation of top 10 free weekly regional newspapers, July-Dec 2015 and 2016
- Trinity Mirror dominates online
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- Figure 21: Leading press online networks, daily unique browsers, July-Dec 2015 and 2016
- Trinity Mirror acquires Local World
- Archant makes redundancies as it centralises operations
- Iliffe Media completes acquisition of Johnston Press titles
Launch Activity and Innovation
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- New print newspapers are introduced
- ‘Hyperlocal’ City of London free print newspaper launches
- Complementary free weeklies launched by Newsquest
- Dundee Evening Telegraph introduces new Saturday edition
- Newspapers explore different payment models
- Dundee Courier implements metered paywall
- Liverpool Echo aims to capitalise on hard-core fans with Anfield Extra
- Appealing for donations
- Readers asked to write and publish stories
- Johnston Press creates investigative journalism unit
- Blackpool Gazette uses Facebook Live
- Trinity Mirror helps people find hyperlocal information
- Trinity Mirror targets London football fans with new website
- Manchester Evening News launches election chatbot
- Moving images being trialled in print newspaper
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- One in five read a regional newspaper daily
- Local TV news is the main alternative way people look for local news
- People are unsure about what newspapers are available for their area
- Stories about local people by far the most popular topic
- Many are still willing to pay for regional news
- Six in 10 want more investigative journalism
- People want newspapers to have strong local political points of view
Formats of Regional Newspapers Read
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- One in five read a regional newspaper daily
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- Figure 22: Frequency of reading daily regional newspapers, May 2017
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- Figure 23: Frequency of reading weekly regional newspapers, May 2017
- Free print is the most popular format
- Few are currently paying for digital newspapers
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- Figure 24: Types of regional newspapers read, May 2017
Alternative Sources for Regional News
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- Local TV news is the main alternative
- The BBC tries to mitigate its threat
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- Figure 25: Alternative sources for regional news, May 2017
- Social media is the main alternative way 16-24s look for regional news
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- Figure 26: Alternative sources for regional news, by age, May 2017
- Fake news on social media presents an opportunity to emphasise trustworthiness
Availability of Regional Newspapers
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- Publishers can do more to boost awareness
- There is an audience for new free newspapers
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- Figure 27: Availability of free regional newspapers, May 2017
Willingness to Pay for Regional Newspapers
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- There is still a willingness to pay for print
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- Figure 28: Willingness to pay for print regional newspapers, May 2017
- Some willingness to pay for digital
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- Figure 29: Willingness to pay for digital regional newspapers, May 2017
- Monthly subscription fee is the preferred payment model
- Tailoring paywalls for areas and demographics
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- Figure 30: Preferred online newspaper payment method, May 2017
Preferred Regional Newspaper Topics
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- Stories about local people by far the most popular topic
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- Figure 31: Preferred regional newspaper topics, May 2017
- Sport is the most important topic for young men
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- Figure 32: Would most like more coverage on sport, by gender and age, May 2017
- Interest in shopping and nightlife creates opportunities for revenue diversification
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- Figure 33: Preferred regional newspaper topics, by gender and age, May 2017
Attitudes towards Regional Newspapers
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- Six in 10 want more investigative journalism
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- Figure 34: Attitudes towards regional newspapers, May 2017
- A stronger point of view could encourage people to pay for digital
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- Figure 35: Attitudes towards regional newspapers having point of view, by willingness to pay for digital regional newspapers, May 2017
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
Appendix – Market Size and Forecast
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- Market forecasts
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- Figure 36: Forecast for volume of annual print regional newspapers in the UK, 2017-22
- Figure 37: Forecast for volume of daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2017-22
- Forecast methodology
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