Fairfax Community Newspapers Higher Readership

February 15 2008
Embargoed until midday
MEDIA STATEMENT

Fairfax Media Community Newspapers Attract Even Higher Readership

Local content provides community connection

The latest Nielsen readership survey confirms the exceptional appeal Auckland’s Suburban Newspapers have with their local communities.

On any given day, readership of the community newspapers in the Auckland Suburban group registers at 675,000 or 67.7% of Aucklanders aged 15 years+. This result represents an increase of 43,000 compared to the previous year.

In total 753,000 Aucklanders read a Fairfax Media Suburban Newspaper each week, and with the addition of the Rodney Times this reach jumps further to an impressive 765,000 readers aged 15 years+.

Fairfax Media’s General Manager Suburban Newspapers, David Penny, said On average within Auckland this was more than 80 percent higher than that achieved by Auckland’s competing community newspaper group and 67 percent higher than the city’s metropolitan daily (The NZ Herald).

“Our suburban community newspapers also achieved a year-on-year readership increase of 6.8 percent,” said David Penny. “This is the third consecutive year that Suburban Newspapers have shown year-on-year growth, an unprecedented achievement in the current newspaper environment.

“What gives them their appeal is the quality of their local content.

“They tell people what is happening locally that is of importance, and give the community the ability to voice its opinion on issues affecting their neighbourhood.

“Their readership and appeal remains unaffected by the rise of online media because of the narrow but totally relevant focus of their content.

“In addition to helping neighbourhoods to retain a sense of community, they unearth those nuggets of information that would otherwise go unrecorded and unnoticed.”

Fairfax Suburban Newspapers achieve extremely high reach into the communities they serve:

Fairfax Suburban Newspapers (AIR) 15yrs+
North Auckland North Shore Times, North Harbour News 66.8%
West Auckland Western Leader, Nor-West News 74.3%
Central Auckland Central Leader, Auckland City Harbour News 58.7%
East Auckland Eastern Courier, East & Bay Courier 58.5%
South Auckland Manukau Courier, Papakura Courier 72.3%
Rodney Rodney Times 74.6%
Auckland Suburban Newspapers & Rodney Times 69.0%

Sources:
Nielsen National Readership Survey Q107-Q407
Nielsen National Readership Survey Q406-Q306 (Previous Period)
Nielsen National Readership Survey Q106-Q406 (Previous Year)

* Group includes 10 separate titles covering the Auckland region.
**Within Auckland region

ENDS

© Scoop Media