This is National Newspaper Week. Let’s celebrate by looking at some hard data provided by the Georgia Press Association. The data was collected from Georgians in an independent study by American Opinion Research
See if you knew these facts about Georgians:
• 66 percent or 4.7 million read a newspaper or newspaper website each week.
• Adults age 18 to 34 visit newspaper websites as frequently as any other age group.
• Half of Georgia consumers say ads in or on newspaper products prompted them to make a purchase, 30 percent higher than direct mail.
• Weekly community newspapers have a wide reach. Almost six in 10 adults read at least once a month, 40 percent during an average week.
• Georgia consumers are more than 50 percent more likely to use newspapers to find out what’s for sale before going shopping than any other source.
• Half of adults made a purchase during an average 30-day period because of something they saw or read in a printed newspaper or newspaper website; 30 percent higher than any other advertising source.
• Newspapers reach all demographic groups, including young consumers: 68 percent are male and 64 percent female; 68 percent are ages 18-39; 65 percent are ages 40-54; and 71 percent are ages 55 and above. For income, 64 percent make under $35,000; 68 percent make $35,000-$49,999; 67 percent make $50,000-$74,999; 66 percent make $75,000-$99,999; and 68 percent make $100,000 or more.
For those who believe that newspapers are “irrelevant,” these numbers don’t lie.
The community newspaper you are reading this in (print edition) or on (our website) contains only local news. You cannot find local news in an out-of-town newspaper. We are local and we write about local people, places and events as well as local government and quality of life issues.
Your community newspaper, the Americus Times-Recorder, is approaching its 138th birthday and we plan to continue to come into your homes and offices, and keep you informed about what’s going on in your community.