The Newspaper Association of America reported on Thursday the number of unique visitors to newspaper websites last year rose more than 6 per cent to a monthly average of 60 million. Monthly visits climbed 9 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year ago.

It said that during the fourth quarter, 39 per cent of all active Web users visited newspaper websites, with visits averaging 44 minutes a month.

The figures come as the newspaper industry becomes increasingly reliant on advertising revenue from Web sites, with print advertising under pressure, particularly when it comes to classified ad sales.

Publishers are hoping that online growth will compensate for some of the decline from the print side.

The report, compiled for the NAA by Nielsen Online, took into account both home and work Internet use. -- REUTERS