Posted 11/01/2004 05:26:00 PM by Douglas

Here's a shocker: People aren't reading the newspapers as much as they used to.

The three best-selling U.S. newspapers have enjoyed an increase in readership this year, although the industry as a whole continues to struggle with falling circulation, new data released on Monday showed.

Overall, the average daily paid circulation for the 841 newspapers reporting twice-yearly data to the Audit Bureau of Circulations slipped 0.9 percent for the six months ended Sept. 30 from the same period last year, according to an analysis of the data by the Newspaper Association of America.

Could it possibly mean that people were getting their news from a different source? Oh, I don't know. What's come along in the past 15 years that could put a dent in newspaper sales? The global availability of news from the Internet, perhaps?

Newspaper circulation has drawn scrutiny because of a string of scandals over inflated data uncovered at several major publishers.

The scandals come as newspaper readership has eroded steadily over the past decade, hurt by competition from other media like the Internet that appeal to younger audiences.

No. Say it ain't so. I'm sure people will still keep buying such great pie-chart filled rags as USA Today, right?

Circulation rose at five of the nine biggest newspapers, the trade group said. That included increases at the three top-selling U.S papers, Gannett Co Inc.,'s USA Today, Dow Jones & Co Inc.'s Wall Street Journal and New York Times Co.'s flagship New York Times.

I'm sure that number has exactly nothing to do with that pile of crap that's flung at the door of every motel room in America, does it?

Meanwhile, I've noticed that the Houston Chronicle is requiring registration to read local stories now. They too will soon disappear from my links, and hopefully soon thereafter, from the realm internet journalism.