Regional titles suffer circulation declines in second half of 2008

by Maisie McCabe, mediaweek.co.uk 26-Feb-09, 16:00

LONDON - All daily regional newspapers posted circulation declines year on year over the final six months of 2008, apart from a handful of part-free, part-paid titles owned by Trinity Mirror and Guardian Media GrouP.

According to ABC circulation figures released today (26 February), circulation of Trinity Mirror's Birmingham Post was up 1.9% year on year to 12,791 in the last six months of 2008.

GMG-owned Manchester Evening News' circulation was up 89% year on year, but down 4.8% period on period to 153,724. The ABC report for January to June 2008 included free copies for the first time.

The circulation of the GMG-owned Reading Evening Post was up 5.9% year on year to average 12,879 copies over the six- month period.

The greatest percentage decline in circulation among the dailies over the period was recorded at Trinity Mirror's Liverpool Daily Post, where circulation was down 17.1% year on year to 12,910.

Circulation at Trinity Mirror's other Birmingham daily, the Birmingham Mail, was down 8.5% year on year with an average circulation of 61,526. The Midlands News Association's Express & Star's circulation was down 6.2% year on year to 130,216.

The circulation of the Johnston Press-owned Yorkshire Evening Post was 49,064, down 12% year on year. Elsewhere in Yorkshire, Northcliffe Media-owned Hull Daily Mail was down 7.7% year on year to 51,886 copies.

Northcliffe's Bristol Evening Post had an average circulation of 46,522, down 9.3% year on year over the six-month period. It emerged last week that Northcliffe Bristol News & Media is planning to cut about a third of its workforce.

Circulation of the Gravesend Reporter, Archant's weekly which went part-free over the period, was up 6.2%, with an average circulation of 14,243 over the six months, although the circulation rose steadily over the period from 5,481 to 23,129.