The end of the press as we know it?

A collapse in sales and adverts will destroy some papers and magazines

- Stephen Glover

There are so many awful things happening at the moment that even readers of a media column may think that the tribulations of the newspaper industry pale by comparison. No doubt they do. But they are nonetheless very grave, and for some titles will be terminal.

Newspapers generally rely on two sources of income – sales and advertising. Both have slumped since coronavirus gripped the country in March. Fewer people – especially older people, who make up the majority of buyers of print titles – are venturing to newsagents and supermarkets to pick up their usual paper. Home deliveries are probably holding up since the expert view (endorsed by the World Health Organisation) is that they are unlikely to carry the virus. Some titles are offering free home delivery.

The most up-to-date official sales figures covering the period 2nd to 22nd March show only a slight decline, but it is certain that, following the lockdown on 23rd March, there has been a near-catastrophic collapse in circulation across the board, for some papers possibly by as much as a quarter.