Globe, Herald report circulation declines

U.S. newspapers, already squeezed by tough economic conditions, reported steep circulation declines in the six-month period ending in March with both The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald recording large drops in readership, according to a report released today.

The Globe’s daily circulation plunged 13.7 percent to 302,638 copies and Sunday readership dropped 11.3 percent to 466,665, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. The Herald’s daily circulation fell at an even greater rate, down 17.4 percent to 150,688 copies, but Sunday readership fell at slower rate, down 9.6 percent to 95,392.

Smaller local newspapers owned by GateHouse Media Inc, like the Brockton Enterprise and Quincy Patriot Ledger, suffered smaller declines for the most recent period, the circulation report noted. But both the Enterprise and the Patriot Ledger still reported drops, with the Enterprise down 5.5 percent daily and the Patriot Ledger down 6.2 percent.

Overall, according to the circulation report, daily circulation fell 7 percent nationwide for the 395 newspapers reporting – nearly double the rate of decline from a year ago when daily circulation fell 3.6 percent. And nearly ever major metropolitan daily reported losses: USA Today’s daily circulation fell 7.5 percent; the New York Times daily circulation fell 3.6 percent and Sunday dropped 1.7 percent; and the L.A. Times fell 6.6 percent daily and 7.5 percent Sunday.

One bright spot: The Wall Street Journal actually reported an increase in daily circulation, up less than one percentage point. But many newspapers, like the Globe and Herald, reported double-digit declines, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution (down 20 percent daily, 7 percent Sunday), The Philadelphia Inquirer (down 13.8 percent daily, 12 percent Sunday) and the San Francisco Chronicle (down 15.8 percent daily, 16.5 percent Sunday).
(By Keith O'Brien, Globe staff)