MEDIA MARKET DATA - World Association of Newspapers

channels (+8%) or even Internet portals (+11 %.) News from these sites benefit from astronger brand image than these from TV channels. VDZ concluded that publishers couldcharge more for advertising on their sites due to better quality content. This could help tofinance the sites on a longer term. ANIMA Newsletter, April 24, 2006SwedenIn a unique cooperation project, 170 Swedish newspapers have decided to work together todevelop the national market for mobile e-paper-based e-readers. The project is running forthree years and is coordinated by the Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association. TheAssociation has studied the potential of mobile e-readers since 2003, and estimates that thecoming three years are crucial for influencing and initiating solutions for the media industry.The e-reader project aims to better understand the potential market to determine the right timeto launch products and services. Market research, in the form of focus groups and field tests,is included in this project, as well as collaboration with a recently initiated project ondesigning media services at the Swedish University College of Halmstad. Newsletter forDirectors of WAN Member Associations - N° 37 ; May 30, 2006United States of AmericaNewspapers' online audiences are growing rapidly, according to a new industry study,highlighting a key growth area that newspapers are seeking to exploit as print circulationcontinues to be challenged. A study by the Newspaper Association of America, a trade group,found that one in three Internet users - 55 million - visit a newspaper Web site every month.Also, unique visitors to newspaper Web sites jumped 21 percent from January 2005 toDecember 2005, while the number of page views soared by 43 percent over the same period.The study coincides with the NAA's annual convention in Chicago. Top of mind for thepublishers attending was the looming sale of 12 Knight Ridder Inc. newspapers by TheMcClatchy Co., which is acquiring the storied publishing company in a $4.5 billion deal thatwill reshape the landscape of American newspapers. Strategies for coping with the rapidtransformation of consumers' news consumption habits due to the Internet was also a big topicat the three-day conference, which began Sunday. Andrew Swinand, executive vice presidentat Starcom Worldwide, a major advertising-buying agency, said during a panel discussion thatnewspapers could do more to harness their presence online, such as getting more participationfrom audiences. AP;http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2006/04/03/ap2640792.html; March 4,2006Promotion to Increase Circulation / Games / GiftsLebanonWith readership figures seemingly in terminal decline and in an attempt to stem the tide,Lebanese newspapers launched a nationwide campaign on Monday to publicize the uniquenews features they offer. The campaign followed month long meetings between the editors ofLebanese print publications and will run adverts both on billboards and television.According to the Lebanese journalism syndicate, 110 newspapers and political magazine arelicensed to publish. Amongst them are 14 daily newspapers, including three in a foreignlanguage: English, French and Armenian. Despite this record number of publications, salesand readership figures are worrying, leading many to express concern for the future ofLebanese newspapers. In light of the absence of transparency and the lack of official figureson the number of readers of each newspaper, it is estimated that 80 thousand to 100 thousandnewspapers are sold everyday in Lebanon. Readership figures range between 320,000 and47