Morning News Daily Circulation Drops 3.5 Percent
by January 12, 2009 12:00 am 55 views
The two major daily newspapers in Northwest Arkansas saw circulation decline on both Sundays and weekdays for the six months ended Sept. 30, according to unaudited numbers filed by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The numbers are for total paid circulation. Weekdays numbers are an average of Monday through Saturday.
The Morning News of Springdale posted the biggest drop with a 3.56 percent decline in average circulation for Monday through Saturday. The Morning News’ decrease followed a 1.75 percent drop in daily circulation for the previous 12-month period, which ended March 31.
The Morning News also posted a 3.45 percent drop in Sunday circulation for the six months ended Sept. 30.
For the same six months, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette had a decrease of 1.81 percent in daily circulation and about half of 1 percent on Sundays.
The AD-G’s Northwest Arkansas numbers are for circulation in Washington, Benton, Madison and Carroll counties only.
Those four counties compare with The Morning News’ entire circulation, but in addition to those four, The Morning News also includes McDonald County in Missouri to its DMA.
Hector Cueva, circulation director for the AD-G, said he’s not happy any time he sees negative numbers, but considering the national climate at newspapers, the decline is not too drastic.
“We continue to sell new subscriptions every week,” he said. “But it’s harder to compare [with past years] because not as many people are moving to town.”
Steve Austin, circulation manager for the Morning News, did not return calls for comment.