U.S. newspaper sites outperform other local publishers in local online revenue, according to a survey by Borrell Associates.

The survey of 3,000 U.S. local Web publishers found that newspaper sites made up 26.9 percent of total local online ad dollars. It also predicted big gains particularly in spending on online video in 2008.

In 2007, newspaper sites generated more than $2 billion local online ad revenues. According to Borrell, it dwarfed online Yellow Pages sites, 9.5 percent of local online ad spending, local TV Web sites, 9.5 percent as well, and also radio stations, which accounted for only 2.1 percent.

Among all the segments, video is the fastest-growing within local online advertising, which is expected to grow from $363 million in 2007 to $1.2 billion in 2008, Media Post reported.

Why are newspapers doing so well? Borrell pointed out a major reason was the growth of dedicated online sales teams. Shawn Riegsecker, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Centro, a online ad platform, echoed this idea.

"First, as print revenues continue to slide, they're doing a better job catching those sales before they leave the industry altogether. It has also done a better job of communicating their value proposition at the local level than television or radio has," Riegsecker said, according to Media Post.

However, this study seems to be at odds with another one released last year by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The Harvard study found that although a few newspaper sites are attracting larger audiences, most others, including both mid-sized regional papers and small-town papers, are stagnant or losing ground, Media Post reported.