Summary

Even as the global economic downturn stunted or reversed growth across industries in the last half of 2008 and into 2009, digital media and advertising have continued to see growth, and are forecast to continue their expansions well into 2012. As technologies evolve and digital sectors advance, new media is gaining market share while traditional media see limited growth or decreasing share overall.

Newspapers around the world are charged with mapping out both the media mix best suited for their readership, as well as revenue streams and monetization possibilities that fit their needs best. Publishers are learning that challenges and solutions are no longer the same at every newspaper, and are digging into demographic and geographic data that can best inform and help them tailor plans for the future to the unique needs and wants of their readers.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers’ World Digital Media Trends 2009 partnered with 54 research partners to map out the world’s media and advertising landscapes, as well as media usage trends on different platforms and how they impact the newspaper industry. As technology accelerates change, publishers today are tasked with making good decisions quickly, and this report aims to better inform those decisions.