UK newspaper publisher Johnston Press has said advertising revenue at its Irish regional titles continued to fall last year.
It said advertising revenue in the Republic of Ireland was down 19% from 2009 to £11m. Johnston Press said the rate of decline slowed, but this was a result of the comparison with an already weak 2009 performance, rather than any improvement in economic conditions.
Johnston Press owns the Leinster Leader group, the Leitrim Observer, the Kilkenny People and the Longford Leader.
The fall in the Republic compared with a 5.7% drop in advertising in its UK businesses. Johnston Press said that the pace and consistency of the economic recovery in its markets remained uncertain, and this was reflected in a weaker than anticipated start to 2011.
