Chinese Public Reads Less

Fewer Chinese people are reading books and magazines, according to the latest China Institute of Publishing Science survey, owing to a higher tempo of life and diversified media.

Yu Min, vice-director of the Institute, made this announcement at the “First Summit on Development Strategy of China’s Publishing Industry” last September in Beijing. According to the survey, in 2003, 51.7 percent of those surveyed read books -- 8.7 percent lower than in 1998, while 46.4 percent read magazines, as compared to 57 percent in 1998.

A busier life has left people with less time for reading, said Yu. The steadily decreasing number of readers has less to do with education levels than with leisure time being taken up with work and study.

Another major reason is the influence of new media on the traditional media market. At a time of rapid economic development and diversified cultural consumption, fierce competition among various media is inevitable.

The survey also showed that within a society that increasingly works to maintain its existence, people read more for practical purposes than for knowledge or vision.