Most Irish newspapers have made strong gains in the latest readership statistics covering the 12 months to the end of June.
The Joint National Readership Survey (JNRS) from Lansdowne Market Research shows the number of adults reading at least one newspaper a week rising from 2.8 million to 2.9 million, or 92 per cent of the adult population.
The National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) said the latest figures represented "a huge boost" for the industry. Mr Frank Cullen, NNI co-ordinating director, said the figures were a reflection of a more buoyant economy and a more literate workforce.
The figures relate to the 12 months to the end of June 2004, compared to the 12 months to the end of June 2003.
Readership refers to the number of people who read a specific newspaper, whereas circulation refers strictly to sales. One of the factors pushing up readership levels in the 12 months to the end of June was an increase in the general population of 69,000.
Readership of The Irish Times grew from 305,000 to 347,000, an increase of 42,000 or 13.8 per cent.
Readership of the Irish Independent rose from 522,000 to 607,000, an increase of 85,000 or 16.3 per cent, the highest level since 2000. The statistics do not distinguish between readership of the broadsheet or tabloid version of the paper, available since April.
The Irish Examiner was one of the few titles to experience declining readership. Its readership in the 12 months to the end of June fell from 210,000 to 207,000, a drop of 3,000 or 1.4 per cent.
Readership for the Star newspaper rose from 435,000 to 456,000, a rise of 21,000 or 4.8 per cent. The Irish Daily Mirror managed to drive readership up from 200,000 to 239,000, an increase of 39,000 or 19.5 per cent. Readership for the Irish Sun went from 284,000 to 296,000, a 12,000 increase or 4.2 per cent.
In the evening market, the Evening Herald's readership went from 338,000 to 357,000, a 19,000 increase or 5.6 per cent. In the highly competitive Sunday market, the State's largest-selling newspaper, the Sunday Independent, increased its readership by 91,000 to 1,093,000, a 9.1 per cent rise.
Readership for the Sunday Tribune was up from 218,000 to 219,000, an increase of 0.5 per cent. Readership for the Sunday World was down from 847,000 to 841,000, a drop of 6,000 or 0.7 per cent.
The Sunday Business Post pushed its readership up from 153,000 to 168,000, a 15,000 increase or 9.8 per cent. Ireland on Sunday was up from 433,000 to 481,000, a jump of 48,000 or 11.1 per cent. The Irish edition of the Sunday Times pushed its readership up from 298,000 to 315,000, a rise of 17,000 or 5.7 per cent.
The Irish edition of the News of the World was up from 509,000 to 531,000, a rise of 22,000 or 4.3 per cent. The Irish Sunday Mirror, was up from 187,000 to 198,000, a jump of 11,000 or 11 per cent. The Irish People increased readership from 148,000 to 151,000, a 3,000 or 2 per cent increase.