The survey, presented to 900 publishers and editors from 80 countries at the 55th World Newspaper Congress and 9th World Editors Forum in Bruges, Belgium, showed that:

  Global newspaper sales were up 0.46 percent in 2001 from a year earlier and were up 4.8 percent over the five years from 1997 to 2001;

  Advertising revenues dropped 7 percent in 2001 in real terms, with 57 percent of countries surveyed showing a decline compared with only 18 percent in the previous year;

  Newspaper share of the global advertising market stabilised for the first time in 15 years;

  Newspaper web sites continue to enjoy dramatic growth in terms of traffic.

"Newspapers had a tough year in 2001 like all other industries," said Timothy Balding, Director General of WAN. "Advertising revenues took a pounding in most developed markets but apparently less so than other media. After 14 successive years of decline, newspaper share of advertising remained stable. The global picture of newspaper sales continues to show positive signs with another yearly increase."

The survey, which WAN has published annually since 1987, includes information on 69 countries. The World Press Trends 2002 edition is now available through the WAN website:

http://www.wan-press.org/bookstore/wpt2002.html