Summary

This report is a follow-up to the paper authored by Valérie Arnould and Vincent Peyrègne, completed in May 2001 and published in April 2002 as Ifra Special Report 6.25 under the title “Free Newspapers – An International Market Survey”. This complementary study provides an update on the development of free commuter newspapers in Europe. It offers comprehensive information on the evolution of the European press and about the most important companies to publish this new format of newspapers on the international market. The study presents a picture of the free newspapers between 1995 and early 2004. This should be viewed only as a snapshot of the current situation: the development of free newspapers is far from over, as new titles are launched and disappear. This report includes a comprehensive analysis of present developments in Switzerland. Taking into account relevant market developments, reading habits and typical features of the business model are elaborated upon. Particular attention is given to the title “20 Minutes”. To complete the picture, a typology of Swiss journalists is presented. A special acknowledgement is offered to all people interviewed who patiently assisted in answering a host of questions.