The latest report on the state of the media from Vocus Research is out, and it finds that the rate of newspaper closures has slowed considerably over 2009.
During the first quarter of 2009, as the report notes, almost 100 newspapers had folded, including dailies like the Rocky Mountain News and the Baltimore Examiner.
This year a smaller number -- 44 -- went out of business in Q-1 and most of those (30) were weeklies. That is not really what you'd call good news, but no major daily has failed so far in 2010.
Vocus notes that digital news sites are growing and that some new ones (around half a dozen) have been launched so far this year.
Meanwhile, there is one actual bright spot: "Starting in 2009 and heading into 2010, Hispanic media noticeably grew. In print media, the Deseret News launched the weekly Spanish-language El Observador in February. Other publishers expanded the distribution of their Hispanic-interest publications such as the Tribune Company’s Fin de Semana."
More magazines launched than folded in Q-4 last year, according to the report,and advertising revenue appears to be rebounding in that sector of the industry.
The report is bullish on the iPad launch and the implications for media companies, and in general sees digital platforms, including mobile, as driving a turnaround in the industry.
You can read mre about the research report here.
Thank you to Frank Strong for help with this post.
Related Post:
Vocus Report on the State of the Media: It's Really, Really Bad (1/13/2010)
"No one paying attention could have missed the massive downswing in fortunes for traditional media companies in the U.S. over the past two years.But just in case someone did, say by hiding in a cave at Tora Bora or wherever, the Vocus Media Research Team is out with a new report today detailing last year’s carnage..."
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