In June 2007 the Newspaper National Network, LP released the results of a study on crossover between newspaper readership and usage of newspaper websites. Results of the study indicated that newspaper website user were not abandoning the print editions of their newspapers on a large scale - 81% of survey respondents who visited a newspaper website in the past seven days reported also reading the printed newspaper in last seven days.

Bear in mind when reading the results of the study that NNN's statistics are based on a population of respondents who said they'd visited a newspaper website in past seven days - this study does not address print and online newspaper readership among the general population.

Here's more from the study:

A new study released today by the Newspaper National Network LP provides an in-depth profile of two segments of newspaper website users, crossover users who regularly use both media, and web-only users.

The 2007 Newspaper National Network Integrated Newspaper Footprint Study was conducted by Scarborough Research via a telephone survey of adults who visited a newspaper website in the past 7 days. The study found that “Crossover” users (who used both print and online newspapers in the past 7 days) are by far the largest segment: 81% of newspaper website users also read the printed newspaper in the last 7 days. Crossover users have deep affinity with both their printed newspaper and their newspaper website, and 83% say “I love both my printed newspaper and visiting my newspapers website.” Crossover users visit their newspaper website to access breaking news (96%), find articles seen previously (85%), and to find things to do/places to go (72%).

“The study shows that the core newspaper reader now accesses his or her local newspaper across multiple formats, print and web, and is deeply engaged with both,” said Jason E. Klein, President and CEO of Newspaper National Network LP. “While the web has brought a younger, female audience to the newspaper franchise, it has also enhanced the way the traditional readers access the brand.”

“Newspaper websites should show sustained growth as we found that 83% of crossover users say their newspaper site will be among their primary destinations 5 years from now,” Klein said.

The main reasons newspaper website-only users cited for using newspaper websites include accessing local news (84%), entertainment information (74%), and food or restaurant information (58%). Newspaper website-only users are web-savvy group as 52% write or read blogs and 46% have joined a web community...

Click here for the press release from NNN about this study in its entirety.