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February 26, 2009

Regional ABCs: Paid-for circulation falls at every GB daily

By Owen Amos

Paid-for circulation fell at every regional daily newspaper in Great Britain in the second half of 2008, according to today’s ABC figures.

The only papers to record circulation increases were those that gave away copies.

The one bright spot was in Northern Ireland, where the Irish News increased its circulation by 0.1 per cent to 47,819, with 99.9 per cent at full price.

The Manchester Evening News recorded an 89 per cent year-on-year circulation increase to 153,724 – but, of those, 53.2 per cent were free. Paid-for circulation of the MEN in the last six months of 2008 was 71,933, down 10.8 per cent year-on-year.

The Reading Evening Post increased its circulation by 5.9 per cent to 12,879 – but only 83.4 per cent were paid for.

Similarly, the Birmingham Post rose by 1.9 per cent to 12,791, but only 57 per cent were bought at full price.

Elsewhere, a number of papers recorded circulation falls of more than 10 per cent.

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In Gloucestershire, The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo both recorded 10.6 per cent year-on-year circulation falls, to 23,474 and 18,850 respectively.

The Liverpool Post fell 17.1 per cent to 12,910, while the Nottingham Evening Post was down 10.7 per cent to 51,526.

The Ipswich Evening Star fell 11 per cent to 17,548, and Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle fell 10.5 per cent to 67,103.

The Yorkshire Evening Post – where journalists are currently on strike – fell 12 per cent to 49.064, while, in Wales, the Western Mail fell 10.3 per cent to 33,693.

Some titles performed better, with full-price circulation falls of three per cent or less.

The Northern Echo, based in Darlington, fell 2.9 per cent to 48,783, while The Echo in Southend, Basildon, and Castle Point fell 2.5 per cent to 33,957.

In Aberdeen, both the Evening Express and Express and Journal were down 2.5 per cent to 52,029 and 78,121.

Georgina Harvey, managing director of the UK’s biggest regional newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror, said that print circulation declines do not tell the whole story for the regional press.

She said: “It goes without saying that the entire regional newspaper industry is currently facing real challenges but we see this as an opportunity to reshape our business. So, while the economic climate is difficult we continue to invest and innovate in our portfolio right across the board.

“Last year alone we launched over 56 newspaper companion websites, around 100 hyperlocal and community sites and 11 mobile sites. In addition we have transformed the editorial processes of our regional newsrooms which positions us to better serve our readers in print, online and on mobile.

“These actions will allow us to reach larger audiences than ever before, cementing our links still further with the regional communities we serve and confirming Trinity Mirror’s position at the forefront of regional publishing.”

Daily regional newspaper circulation – all percentage changes are year on year
(ranked in order of year-on-year performance)

Manchester Evening News – 153,724 (89.0%)
Reading Evening Post – 12,879 (5.9%)
Birmingham Post – 12,791 (1.9%)
Express & Star (West Midlands) Sporting Star – 8,553 (0.9%)
Irish News – Morning – 47,819 (0.1%)
Cambridge Evening News – 25,195 (-2.0%)
Southend – Basildon – Castle Point – Echo – 33,957 (-2.5%)
Aberdeen – Evening Express – 52,029 (-2.5%)
Aberdeen – Press & Journal (Series) – 78,121 (-2.6%)
Guernsey Press & Star – 15,780 (-2.6%)
Darlington – The Northern Echo – 48,783 (-2.9%)
Weymouth – Dorset Evening Echo – 18,026 (-4.1%)
Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph – Kettering – 21,523 (-4.1%)
Halifax – Evening Courier – 19,128 (-4.1%)
Torquay – Herald Express (Series) – 22,980 (-4.2%)
York – The Press – 31,569 (-4.5%)
Ulster – News Letter – 25,253 (-4.6%)
Barrow – North West Evening Mail – 17,654 (-4.7%)
South Wales Argus – Evening – 27,101 (-4.8%)
Jersey Evening Post – 20,070 (-4.9%)
Swindon Advertiser – 20,845 (-5.0%)
Daily Post (Wales) – 34,601 (-5.0%)
Carlisle – News and Star East – 15,600 (-5.2%)
Bournemouth – The Daily Echo – 30,754 (-5.2%)
Wrexham – Evening Leader – 20,073 (-5.2%)
Northampton Chronicle & Echo – 19,016 (-5.3%)
Shropshire Star (Series) – 67,726 (-5.3%)
Dundee Evening Telegraph – 23,048 (-5.3%)
Portsmouth – News & Sports Mail (Series) – 49,628 (-5.5%)
Norwich – Eastern Daily Press – 61,143 (-5.5%)
Dundee Courier & Advertiser (Series) – 69,414 (-5.5%)
Southern Daily Echo – Southampton – 36,241 (-5.8%)
Wigan Evening Post – 8,248 (-5.9%)
Plymouth – The Herald – 34,342 (-6.0%)
Lancashire Telegraph – Blackburn 28,569 (-6.2%)
The Sentinel – 58,049 (-6.2%)
Express & Star (West Midlands) (Series) – 130,216 (-6.2%)
Greenock Telegraph – 16,349 (-6.2%)
Burton Mail – 13,734 (-6.3%)
Ipswich – East Anglian Daily Times – 32,208 (-6.4%)
South Shields – Shields Gazette – 17,522 (-6.4%)
Hartlepool Mail – 17,044 (-6.5%)
Carlisle – News and Star West – 6,176 (-6.5%)
Worcester News – 16,507 (-6.6%)
South Wales Evening Post – 47,875 (-6.7%)
Exeter – Express & Echo – 19,353 (-6.8%)
The Bolton News – 27,540 (-6.8%)
Oxford Mail – 23,402 (-6.8%)
Leeds – Yorkshire Post – 45,718 (-6.8%)
Scarborough Evening News – 12,676 (-7.0%)
Coventry Telegraph & The Pink – 43,594 (-7.1%)
Lancashire Evening Post – 28,275 (-7.2%)
Colchester – Evening Gazette – 20,523 (-7.3%)
Leicester Mercury – 64,919 (-7.3%)
Edinburgh – Evening News – 47,129 (-7.3%)
Paisley Daily Express – 8,831 (-7.3%)
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Journal – 32,859 (-7.4%)
The Gazette – Blackpool – 26,968 (-7.6%)
Bradford – Telegraph & Argus – 34,042 (-7.6%)
Hull Daily Mail – 51,886 (-7.7%)
Plymouth – Western Morning News – 37,819 (-8.1%)
Oldham Evening Chronicle – 19,280 (-8.1%)
Liverpool Echo – 97,779 (-8.1%)
Huddersfield Daily Examiner – 23,290 (-8.1%)
Glasgow – Evening Times – 68,422 (-8.1%)
Belfast Telegraph (Series) – 69,457 (-8.1%)
Bristol – Western Daily Press (Series) – 38,211 (-8.2%)
Norwich – Eastern Evening News – 21,030 (-8.2%)
Teesside – Evening Gazette – 46,692 (-8.3%)
Derby Evening Telegraph – 39,152 (-8.4%)
The Argus Sussex – 30,070 (-8.5%)
Birmingham Mail – 61,526 (-8.5%)
Scunthorpe Telegraph – 18,823 (-8.5%)
Sunderland Echo & Football Echo – 39,159 (-8.7%)
Grimsby Telegraph – 31,538 (-8.8%)
Peterborough Evening Telegraph – 16,428 (-9.0%)
Bristol Evening Post – 46,522 ( -9.3%)
Lincolnshire Echo – 20,181 (-9.4%)
Sheffield Star & Green ‘Un 47,216 (-9.5%)
Cardiff – South Wales Echo – Evening – 41,550 (-9.9%)
Wales – The Western Mail – Morning (Series) – 33,693 (-10.3%)
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Evening Chronicle – 67,103 (-10.5%)
The Citizen – 23,474 (-10.6%)
Gloucestershire Echo – 18,850 (-10.6%)
Nottingham Evening Post – 51,526 (-10.7%)
Ipswich – Evening Star – 17,548 (-11.0%)
Leeds – Yorkshire Evening Post – 49,064 (-12.0%)
Doncaster Star – 3,384 (-14.1%)
Liverpool Daily Post – 12,910 (-17.1%)
Yorkshire Sport (Sat) – 5,647 (-22.9%)

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