News Recovers Some Circ Drop

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette had an average daily paid circulation of 33,938 for the six months ended Sept. 30. That’s for Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties combined.
The Morning News had an averaged daily paid circulation of 32,542 for the same period for its five-county designated market area. Besides the four counties mentioned above, The Morning News’ numbers also included McDonald County in Missouri, which the newspaper added to its DMA in the spring.
The spring DMA also included Barry County in Missouri, but that had been removed for the fall numbers.
The Business Journal used the DMA numbers to get an apples-to-apples comparison with the D-G, which circulates statewide and to 12 counties with its Northwest Arkansas edition.
The Morning News’ daily circulation reflects a 2.7 percent increase from 31,681 in the six months ended Sept. 30, 2005.
The News had a 4.9 percent increase in Sunday circulation from 38,954 to 40,862.
Stephen Kelsey, director of circulation for the News, said the paper “got back to basics” and got rid of some highly discounted subscriptions. He pointed out that the growth was in home delivery.
The numbers show growth, but are somewhat skewed since the News’ daily circulation was down from 34,429 in the six months ended March 31, 2005, which has been attributed to a $20 per year subscription special (about 25 percent of full price).
The D-G had flat growth of 1.3 percent growth in daily circulation and a 1.4 percent increase in Sunday circulation when compared to the six months ended Sept. 30, 2005.
The D-G took the lead in Sunday circulation in 2000. The Morning News kept the daily lead until March 2005.