Circulation drops at major newspapers

Last update: April 29, 2008 - 12:06 AM

Print this story

Minnesota business by the numbers

See Minnesota's top earning companies, CEOs and non-profits

More from Business

Circulation fell sharply at most top U.S. newspapers in the latest reporting period, an industry group said Monday, and the Star Tribune was no exception.

Average daily circulation at the Star Tribune for the six months ended March 31 totaled 321,984, a decrease of 6.7 percent from a year earlier, according to preliminary figures filed with the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Sunday circulation was 534,063, down 7 percent. Those figures make the Star Tribune the nation's 19th-largest daily newspaper and 10th-largest Sunday newspaper.

In a message to employees, Star Tribune Publisher Chris Harte said much of the decline was because the newspaper had cut back on promotional copies distributed at hotels and special events. "Core circulation," meaning home delivery and single-copy sales, was down 1.3 percent daily and 3.7 percent Sunday, Harte said.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported daily circulation of 191,768 and Sunday circulation of 252,055. Both are up about 0.1 percent from a year ago.

USA Today remained the country's top-selling paper with an average daily circulation of 2,284,219, up 0.3 percent, while the Wall Street Journal rose 0.4 percent to 2,069,463.

The New York Times remained the third-largest, with circulation of 1,077,256, down 3.9 percent from the same period a year earlier.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Recent Business stories

Defense attacks government's case at trial of 2 ex-Bear Stearns hedge fund managers - April 29, 2008

Defense attacks government's case at trial of 2 ex-Bear Stearns hedge fund managers - Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers charged with lying to investors always were honest about the risks of investing in securities linked to the volatile subprime mortgage market, a defense lawyer told a jury on Friday. More