BEIJING - China's traditional newspaper publishing industry grossed 69.8 billion yuan ($11.2 billion) last year, down 10.2 percent year-on-year, according to the country's publication watchdog.

A report released Wednesday by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television noted that newspaper publishing posted profits of 7.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 12.8 percent.

In 2013, the business also registered year-on-year decreases in both gross earnings and profit of 8.9 percent and 11.7 percent respectively.

Types of newspapers and their circulations also shrank.

Meanwhile, the country's digital publishing industry grossed 338.8 billion yuan ($55.5 billion) in 2014, up 33.4 percent year on year and nearly five times that of the traditional newspaper business.

"Online publishing of magazines and e-books rose by 18.2 percent in terms of revenue, highlighting a momentum in traditional publications resorting to the electronic platform," said the report.