A particularly hard-hit sector of newspapers has been the loss of real estate advertising, a reflection of overall economic conditions that dampened development and sales of projects in a low-demand period. As brokers faltered, so did their spending.

But Borrell Associates suggests some restoration of revenue is under way in the nearly-$20-billion sector and will continue this year. Overall i expects a three-per-cent increase following a 20-per-cent decline last year --- hardly a renewal, but the end of a freefall.

As for newspapers, they'll experience growth of 16 per cent after a decline of 34 per cent in 2009.
 
 

A new Borrell Associates report examines the trends in online advertising. It notes whopping growth of about 50% in online advertising, but says the successes in news media are those shedding their old forms and moving into new fields. Increasingly the winners are those venturing into new product lines and breaking away from their roots.
Borrell predicts more double-digit growth in online advertising until about 2012, then a settling in. If the last four years were of the 48-per-cent growth era, the next four will be of the 15-per cent era.
It says newspapers have the advantage in the local market.

 
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