Posted by chicagomedia.org on April 27, 2009 at 18:44:17:
U.S. daily newspaper circulation declines
Paid circulation of the nation's daily newspapers for the six-month period ending in March dropped 7.1 percent weekdays and 5.4 percent on Sundays compared to the same stretch a year earlier, according to figured released today by the Schaumburg-based Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Chicago Tribune paid circulation declined 7.5 percent weekdays, from 541,663 to 501,202, and 4.5 percent on Sundays, from 898,703 to 858,256.
The Chicago Sun-Times, which benefited from a Sunday price hike at the Tribune, reported a 2.8 percent increase in its Sunday paid average circulation, going from 247,469 to 254,379. Its weekday circulation remained essentially flat, declining only 0.04 percent, in going from 312,272 to 312,141.
The Arlington Heights-based Daily Herald’s Sunday average declined 6.6 percent, from 141,091 to 131,789, and weekday average fell 8.9 percent, from 143,151 to 130,404.
(A list of the top 25 U.S. newspapers by circulation can be found here.)
Tribune increases from sales of post-election and post-inauguration editions, as well as increases from conversion of its non-subscription weekday edition to a commuter-friendly tabloid-size format in the middle of the ABC reporting period, were more than offset by a series of factors. These included a deliberate scaling back of regional distribution and other unprofitable circulation, the Sunday price increase, a major redesign that reduced newsprint costs and the presidential campaign endorsement of Barack Obama, the Democrats' nominee, an historic departure from tradition for the paper.
Overall, the Chicago Tribune Media Group, which includes niche publications such as the free commuter edition RedEye, the high school paper TheMash, Trib Local and Spanish-language Hoy and Fin de Semana, reported its distribution was up 3.1 percent on weekends and remained flat during Monday through Friday, with the group's online traffic up 27 percent in unique visitors.
“Our newspaper and online products continue to build a local audience by addressing the needs of news and information consumers better than any of our local competitors,” Tony Hunter, president, publisher and chief executive of Chicago Tribune Media Group, said in a statement. “Our growing, diverse portfolio of media channels reach people online and in print, providing relevant, differentiated content about the Chicagoland market. In turn, we deliver results for our advertisers through innovative solutions tailored to meet their marketing objectives.”
(Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune)