by the Newspaper Association of America, http://www.naa.org, May 2, 2007
In an April 23, 2007 press release which appeared in the Newspaper Association of America website, the NAA shared research findings from an analysis by Nielsen/Net Ratings showing that newspaper websites attracted a record number of visitors in the first quarter of 2007.
The release states:
More than 59 million people (37.6 percent of all active Internet users) visited newspaper Web sites on average during the first quarter of 2007, a record number that represents a 5.3 percent increase over the same period a year ago, according to custom analysis provided by Nielsen//NetRatings for the Newspaper Association of America. In addition, newspaper Web site visitors generated nearly three billion page views per month throughout the quarter, compared to just under 2.7 billion during the same period last year. The first quarter figures are the highest for any quarter since NAA began tracking these numbers in 2004.
"These record-setting numbers underscore newspapers’ success in capturing online audiences and the importance of newspaper Web sites to the growing newspaper footprint,” said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm. “Newspaper Web sites continue to grow audience and contribute to newspapers’ broadening revenue streams. In addition, the sites attract a younger, more affluent audience coveted by advertisers while providing a valuable service to readers seeking immediate information from a trusted local source.”
Users continue to increase the amount of time they spend on newspaper Web sites with the average visitor spending more than 45 minutes per month during the quarter, an 11.5 percent increase over this time last year.
“The fact that more people are discovering the value of newspaper Web sites is a testament to the spirit of innovation embraced by newspaper companies that continually strive to meet evolving consumer demands,” Sturm added...
Click here to read this press release in its entirety on the NAA website.
