German Magazine Market Bouncing Back

Magazine publishers in Germany are breathing a sigh of relief after signs are pointing to an upturn in advertising revenue after three difficult years. The president of the German Association of Magazine Publishers (VDZ), Hubert Burda, announced in Berlin on Wednesday that the bottom had been reached and that publishers are reporting increased earnings this year. Several titles reported aiming for advertising revenue increases of up to 30 percent in 2003. The German advertising market grew in the first nine months of the year by 2.4 percent, or €280 million ($321 million). 2003 has also proved to be a good year for new titles. In the period from January to May, 198 new magazines appeared on store shelves. The VDZ reported that women’s magazines, as well as publications focusing on travel and shopping, have been particularly successful.