Enough with all the negative news about the newspaper industry. Let’s get positive, folks. For instance, instead of parroting this Bloomberg report that newspaper revenue plunged by 29 percent last quarter, let’s emphasize that 71 percent of advertisers stuck around.

And rather than moan that print advertising plunged 30 percent, let’s point to the rosy news that online newspaper advertising was downright robust in comparison, dipping only 16 percent.

The Newspaper Association of America is not amused at the results, but is trying to put the awful quarter behind it:

“This data represents a rearview mirror perspective on what we all know was a terrible stretch of bad road,” John Sturm, NAA chief executive officer, said in a statement.

We’ll end with still more good news: While the last quarter, as well as the past several years, have been awful for newspapers, they’re probably nothing compared to what the next quarter and next few years will be like. A terrible stretch of bad road is always preferable to a cliff.

U.S. Newspapers Post Steeper Declines in Ad Revenue [Bloomberg]
(Photo: picaday)

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