Printed word gains appeal

By IRENE CHAPPLE

Print is enjoying a popularity renaissance, the latest readership data from ACNielsen showing an increase in newspaper and magazine readership.

Daily newspaper readership among those aged over 15 increased nationwide by 1.8 per cent between February and December last year, compared with the same period in 2000. During that time, population growth was 0.4 per cent.

The statistics, issued this week, show the highest readership of daily newspapers since 1997.

On any day, 55 per cent of New Zealanders aged over 15 will read a daily newspaper.

The New Zealand Herald gained the largest number of readers, adding 22,000 to reach a total of 552,000.

Of the metropolitan newspapers, Wellington's Dominion was the biggest winner in percentage terms with an 8 per cent increase, adding 15,000 readers for a total of 200,000.

This was ahead of the population increase in its circulation area - 1.4 per cent in the Auckland region and 0.6 per cent Taupo north.

The Herald is now read by one in every five New Zealanders aged 15 or over.

Wellington's Evening Post and the Christchurch Press dropped readers. The Post suffered most, losing 9000 readers to take its readership to 128,000. The Press lost 2000 readers, dropping to 226,000. The Otago Daily Times rose 5000 to 104,000.

In provincial areas, the Waikato Times gained 7000 to 97,000, Hawkes Bay Today 5000 to 67,000 and the Southland Times 1000 to 71,000.

The Northern Advocate lost 1000 readers to 35,000.

The Bay of Plenty Times stayed steady on 51,000 as did Rotorua's Daily Post on 34,000.

Overall, the 18 provincial papers had a 1.9 per cent readership gain.

Reader gains have been among males aged 20 to 39 and those in high socio-economic brackets.

The Weekend Herald is read by 638,000 people over 15, up 8 per cent.

Figures for magazines and weekly papers show readers 10 aged or older.

On that basis, the Sunday Star-Times increased by 19,000 to 630,000, and the Sunday News is read by 494,000 people, an increase of 28,000.

Magazine readership has surged, 70 per cent of titles recording gains. In that group, the National Business Review has increased readership by 13,000, up to 107,000.

The New Zealand Woman's Weekly reaches 907,000 weekly. It is followed by Woman's Day on 807,000 and NZ New Idea on 472,000. The Listener readership is up 5000 to 357,000.

Among the losers was TV Guide, down 46,000 readers to 868,000.