Newspaper advertising revenue drops by 12% for first half of year

NEWSPAPER advertising revenue dropped 12% in the first six months of the year from a record €151m in 2001 to €133m.

The E133m spent in the 12 member titles of the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) during the period January to June 2002 was down slightly for the corresponding figure for 2000 of E134m.

Advertising agencies generated E75m while the remaining 58m was produced from classified and small ads.

NNI Chairman, Gavin O’Reilly, said: “A spend of E133m in a period of six months is a clear expression of advertisers’ confidence in newspapers as the number one medium in which to advertise goods and services.

“Over 2.5 million adults read NNI newspapers for their diet of news, views and current affairs. In this time of economic uncertainty it is necessary, now more than ever, to recognise the strengths of NNI titles, in terms of delivering a strong, loyal audience.”

AIM-Carat topped the NNI Agency League Table with a spend of E7.5m, which translates as an highly impressive 26% increase on the first half of last year.

Mr O’Reilly said AIM-Carat has never failed to recognise that newspaper advertising as a sound investment that produces great returns and therefore deserves the number one slot.

Brindley Advertising, last year’s winners, put in another strong performance to take second place with a spend of E7.4m and are followed by Doherty Advertising (E5m).

Mindshare-DDFH&B-O&M occupy 4th position with a spend of E4.9m, with MCM Communications (E4.3m), Leo Burnett-Mediavest-QMP D’Arcy (E4.2m), Irish International (E3.5m), Eason Advertising (E3.2m), Des O’Meara & Ptns including Rubicon (E2.7m) and Owens DDB (E2.5m) occupying the remaining top 10 positions.

GT Media show the highest percentage increase in spend with an outstanding 44% increase.