[Craig Smith's Blog] Local Newspaper Readership Continues To Dip

[craigsmithsblog]

The latest newspaper circulation numbers are in and among the newspapers in the Tri-Counties, the Santa Barbara News-Press is showing the steepest decline in readership.

According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the News-Press has a Monday through Friday circulation of 25,297 compared to 27,576 a year earlier. That's a drop of 8.2%. Sunday readership was 24,951 compared to 27,727 for the same period a year earlier, a drop of 10%.

To the south of us, the Ventura County Star had a Monday through Friday circulation of 63,988 versus 66,401 a year ago for a decline of 3.6%. Sunday circulation actually increased slightly from 81,892 to 81,524, a gain of 0.45%.

To the north, the Santa Maria Times saw its Monday through Friday numbers go from 16,351 compared to 16,452 for the same period a year ago, a drop of 0.6%. Its Sunday readership declined 5 percent going down to 14,686 compared to 15,465 a year ago.

The Tribune in San Luis Obispo saw identical percentage drops of 2.5 percent for Monday through Friday and Sunday Circulation. Monday through Friday readership fell to 32,694 down from 33,553 a year ago Sunday circulaton was 38,204 compared to 39,184 for the same period a year earlier.

Nationwide, figures released Monday show average weekday circulation at U.S. newspapers fell 5% in the six months ended Sept. 30 compared with the same period a year earlier. Sunday circulation was off 4.5%, according to an article in the L.A. Times.

The local figures that I quoted above were provided to me by a source in the newspaper industry.

Yes, I have high friends in places.

&copy 2010 by Craig Smith and www.craigsmithsblog.com

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Posted By craigsmithsblog to Craig Smith's Blog at 10/26/2010 11:27:00 AM