According to the Enhanced Media Metrics Australia (or emma) figures for May, total masthead readership of The Canberra Times grew by 6 per cent from the previous month to 797,000.

In the 11 months since publishers launched the measurement system in June 2013, The Canberra Times has increased its total masthead readership by 22 per cent.

Computer web traffic to canberratimes.com.au accounted for the bulk of the growth in the May survey period, with the number of readers accessing the site via their desktops and laptops rising 8 per cent from April to 549,000.

Audiences using tablets and smartphones have been steady since March. Both are still more than 50 per cent above June 2013 levels – the strongest growth rates charted in tablet and mobile audiences among Australia’s major news brands.

The emma figures, issued this week, show print readership of The Canberra Times slipped slightly in May to 248,000 people, though weekday and Sunday readership remain 8 per cent up on June last year.

Overall, 80 per cent of The Canberra Times audience is using digital channels, with 11 per cent using both print and digital.

The Newspaper Works CEO Mark Hollands said the latest data showed that major national, metropolitan and regional newspapers were read by more than 12.7 million, or 72 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over.

“Right across Australia, newspaper readership is up,” he said. “Demand for printed newspapers remains strong and is delivering big audience numbers for commercial partners.”

Increases in digital readership have resulted in a net audience increase of 2 per cent across the major newspaper brands since June 2013.

“That we’re now seeing a large increase in digital readership isn’t surprising given the move to smartphones and the trend for ‘snacking’ on news,” Mr Hollands said.

“Emma data shows that more than one-third of our audience now read news on smartphones or tablet devices.”