Papers in decline across the Ditch

SYDNEY: Australian newspaper sales continue to fall and the industry body for major publishers lays the blame on a slower news year rather the inroads made into circulation by online news sites.

Sales of metropolitan and national newspapers fell by an average of 3 per cent in the March quarter compared with the same period a year ago, Audit Bureau of Circulations data showed.

Fairfax Media's the Australian Financial Review was the hardest hit, with the daily circulation of its Monday to Friday edition falling 8.6 per cent to 75,624 copies. The AFR's Saturday edition fell 6.6 per cent to 91,735.

The ABC data showed circulation of News' flagship the Australian dropped by 4.4 per cent or from 138,765 to 132,690 copies for its Monday to Friday edition. Its weekend edition dropped by 3.7 per cent to 304,548 copies.

Daily circulation of the Monday to Friday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald fell 1.7 per cent to 209,011 while its Melbourne stablemate the Age declined by 4.1 per cent to 189,500 for Monday to Friday.

Saturday edition sales for the Sydney Morning Herald fell 5.3 per cent to 359,000, while the Age lost 5.1 per cent to 294,900.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph lost 3 per cent to 349,635. The Telegraph's Saturday edition dropped by 1.1 per cent to 331,272.

The chief executive of media industry group Newspaper Works, Tony Hale, said the downturn was the result of a slow news year rather than the effect of the growth of digital media.

"The early months of last year were punctuated by some of the more momentous news events of the decade," Hale said. "Circulation during that period was stronger because ... Australians turn to newspapers in tough times or when there is news of great significance."

Between January and March last year, major domestic news events included the Victorian bushfires and the federal government's household stimulus package. The inauguration of US President Barack Obama produced a surge in newspaper sales in Australia.

Hale said there was competition from online outlets but Australians still believed newspapers were the most reliable news source. But media analysts said the proliferation of free online news and comment sites had contributed to the fall in newspaper sales.

Online comment site New Matilda editor Marni Cordell said the site was growing with readers attracted to the diversity of viewpoints.

- AAP