Formation de l’audience et comportement du consommateur : le cas de la presse sportive périodique

The aim of this research project is to conceive a new method of measuring press readership in order to surpass the limits of recent reading, the common method of readership measurement for this type of media. We have begun by designing a conceptual framework for measuring press readership-per-copy focused on consumer behavior and set up so as to classify behavior which is likely to contribute to the shaping of press support readership. This behavior, referred to as end-use decision-making in the literature, is then subject to study, the chosen field of application for empirical study being the French periodical sports press. The results of this study demonstrate in particular that the trend of pass along reading is a generalized phenomenon. They establish the potential of pass along consumption for press titles. The findings further indicate that the probability of reuse of a press title subsequent to its primary consumption is on average about 80%, a statistic which highlights the fact that the collective nature of this consumer behavior is not marginal. Our project has been enhanced with the development of a new research tool which allows for the automated collection of data concerning press readership behavior via cell phone. Finally, to conclude our methodological approach, we have chosen the sample group as a means of observational research and have elaborated a questionnaire tailored to measure the editorial and advertising readership of press consumers.