Why Develop Readership by Age 18?
Weekday Readership*Consistent as People Age—Life Stage Has Little Impact |
||
| Year | Weekday (Ave) | Cohort Age |
| 1979 | 61% | 18-24 |
| 1989 | 59% | 28-34 |
| 1997 | 60% | 36-42 |
Reading by Generation* |
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| Average | ||
| Weekdays | Sundays | |
| Pre- boomers |
70% | 75% |
| Baby Boomers | 58% | 70% |
| Generation X | 47% | 62% |
* Source: Media Management Center
Consider the next generation
Generation Y — people born between 1977 and 1995 — are reading newspapers much less than their parents did at a comparable age, choosing instead to get their news from radio, cell phones and computers.
In a few years this huge generation, bigger even than the baby boomers, will all be 18 or older. If a newspaper is to remain a vital source of news for decades to come, we have to get Gen Y kids hooked on reading it now.
Kid friendly features can help. We invite you to take a look at what Universal Press Syndicate has to offer.
Generation Y Features
- Familytime Crossword
- Magic Eye
- The Mini Page
- Tell me a Story
- Tokyopop Presents — Peach Fuzz & Van Von Hunter
- The Video Game Page
- www.4kids.org
- You Can With Beakman & Jax
Mike Smith, managing director at Northwestern's Media Management Center, says it best: "If a daily reading habit is not formed by age 18, it will be unlikely for a young person to become a newspaper reader as an adult."
