Wemf figures speak against centralization, finds imprint
The journalists' association Imprint sees the latest Wemf figures as proof that Tamedia's centralization strategy is the wrong way to go. Centralization will accelerate the loss of readers instead of preventing it.
Regional newspapers are gaining readers, while national titles are losing, according to the Wemf reach studies published on October 10. In the area of the printed press, centralizations such as those being prepared by Tamedia would therefore miss the market, writes Impressum in a press release. The online consultation of publications continues to increase, which shows that the demand for journalistic content continues unabated.
The readership figures of printed newspapers show that local and regional identity ensures reader loyalty, Impressum added. "As local titles gain and national ones lose, Impressum once again calls on Tamedia to stop the already decided centralization and to strengthen the local and regional identity of the titles through investments."
The often cited readership figures of the printed titles according to the Mach BasicAccording to Imprint, however, this study says little about the reach of journalistic content. This is because the increasing number of readers who read newspapers online will only be "Total Audience"-study, the association writes. And also this study does not measure the consultation of content via third-party platforms with aggregated content, nor the new journalistic online media, the "pure players". The demand for journalism is therefore not in question, even if the Wemf study "Do Basic" could suggest this.
