US newspaper websites show slight audience growth

This article was migrated from an old version of our website in 2025. As a result, it might have some low-quality images or non-functioning links - if there's any issues you'd like to see fixed, get in touch with us at info@journalism.co.uk.

Fifty nine million people visited US newspaper websites between July and September, representing just a slight 3.7 per cent growth from the previous year.

According to a report released today by the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) - quoting Nielsen/NetRatings figures for the third quarter period - US newspaper website audiences accounted for 37.1 per cent of active internet users in the US with 59 million visitors - an increase of 3.7 per cent from 56.9 million people over the same period a year ago.

The number of page views for the sites rose by 12 per cent from the previous year to 2.8 billion per month.

In addition the study by the NAA, which represents more than 2,000 newspapers in the US and Canada, showed that the amount of time spent on newspaper sites by users increase to an average of more than 43 minutes per month.

The figures coincide with the release of a wider analysis of print and online readership conducted by the NAA and media marketing service Scarborough. The joint study 'Newspaper Footprint: Total Audience in Print and Online' showed that 77 per cent of US adults read a newspaper in print or online each week.

"As the newspaper industry moves toward measurement data reflecting the medium's total reach and audience, this analysis is evidence of newspapers' broad appeal in a highly competitive media marketplace," said John F. Sturm, president and CEO of the NAA.