NRS figures for the May to October period reveal a relatively positive period for national newspaper readership, which increased by 1.2 year on year.
The most activity was seen in the broadsheet market, which appears to be flourishing despite the recent series of coverprice rises. The sector’s biggest increase was made by The Times, which was seen up 16.1% year on year. The paper’s Sunday sibling also performed well, with readership rising by 14.8%. Notable increases were seen at the Guardian and the Independent. The Observer also recorded a 5.6% year on year increase.
The only blackspot in an otherwise bright market for broadsheets was provided by the Sunday Telegraph, which saw readership decline by 2.2%.
Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror, which recently emerged from a fierce coverprice war with the Sun, saw readership slip by 9.9% year on year. The Sun managed a 3.6% gain during the six months to October, however, the News Of The World fared less well, with readership slipping by 3.7%. Richard Desmond’s Daily Star continued its positive streak, gaining over 80,000 readers when compared with the same period last year. Mid-market titles, the Daily Express and the Daily Mail, also had a successful period during the six months to October 2002.
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