The 46-page report, published by the AIM Group and supported by NewsStand, aims to help publishers understand digital editions and assess their potential market. The document is available for free on the group's web site.
"No-one has researched the subject from the publishers' perspective until now," said Peter Zollman, director of the AIM Group.
"There are real benefits in publishing digital editions, and it's important that publishers make an informed opinion about their options in new media."
As well as content designed specifically for the site, many news sites offer a digital edition that is a facsimile of the printed version, often in the form of a PDF (portable document format). Digital editions can have several advantages over straightforward web sites, according to Mr Zollman, and can now include embedded audio and video files.
"Many sites are hard to navigate and don't include everything from the print publication," he said.
Using case studies from several publications including the New York Times and Christian Science Monitor, the report claims that digital editions have allowed some publications to increase their daily circulation by as much as three per cent.
Digital publications also cost less to produce than print publications - up to 65 cents less in some cases - offering a significant opportunity to reduce distribution costs while reaching a new, international readership.
"I don't think it should replace print newspapers or web sites, but it does have a big potential that publishers need to understand and explore," said Mr Zollman.
• In December 2003, ABC, the UK auditor for newspapers and magazines, announced that digital editions would be included in total circulation figures. In the US, digital editions have been included in circulation audits since July 2002, providing an extra incentive for publishers looking to increase their readership as well as raise brand awareness.
See also:
http://www.aimgroup.com/main.asp?SectionID=20&SubSectionID=22&FileID=1&UID=18163
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story771.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story527.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story348.shtml
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