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Seoul (pte030/01.06.2005/13:03) - Despite pundits' predictions that newspapers would go under after the electronic publishing and online-media-services boom, newspapers, particularly tabloids, are thriving.
As reported to about 1300 journalists and print media CEOs at the current World Newspaper Congress held in Seoul, newspaper circulation has gone up by 2.1 per cent.
The tabloid, with its smaller format, shorter, zippier stories and bigger, more colourful photos than high-brow broadsheets, is taking global print media by storm.
"It is somewhat ironic that in a year in which the newspaper is 400 years old-or perhaps more fittingly, 400 years young-so many media commentators are still suggesting that the game is up for newspapers," said Gavin O'Reilly, WAN's acting president.
Experts at the congress, organised by WAN - World Association of Newspapers http://www.wan-press.org , are outlining the size and scope of papers in years to come.
A leading newspaper designer from Florida, Mario Garcia, said: "The newspaper of 2020 will be small in size and will be very closely linked to the digital media and specifically the online media."
After the Swiss Francophone daily, Le Matin, went tabloid in September 2001, other papers followed. Theo Bochart, publications director for Swiss publishers Edipresse, said: "It took place at a time when nobody was talking about downsizing."
Two years later the Independent and the London Times downsized, inspiring a revolution of tabloids.
Even US publishers are realising the marketing potential of the tabloid. Robb Montgomery, design editor of the Chicago Sun-Times said that he thinks US publishers' still relatively dismissive attitude towards tabloids will change.
"If the editor of the Times of London can get past going tabloid, I think so can others," he said. He indicated that the overseas editions of the Wall Street Journal would downsize this year, possibly to be followed by other big names.
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