NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. newspaper advertising revenue fell 7 percent during the first three months of the year. That left the industry’s quarterly ad revenue at its lowest level in 27 years.
Combined print and online advertising revenue totaled $5.6 billion in the first quarter. That compared with $6 billion a year earlier.
Revenue was $5.2 billion in the first quarter of 1984. It had peaked in the fourth quarter of 2005 at $14.3 billion. Newspapers have struggled with the weak economy and a shift by advertisers to free and cheaper outlets on the Internet.
In a bright spot for newspapers, their online advertising revenue increased 11 percent to $808 million. But that hasn’t been enough to offset the declines in print.
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