The departure of “bonking” Boris Johnson in December evidently
hasn’t harmed the sales of The Spectator – which rose 4.4 per cent
year-on-year to 70,090 in the first half of 2006 under new boss Matthew
D'Ancona.
It is a new high for the 178-year-old mag and reflects a generally positive period for the news weeklies.
The Economist – now at more than a million sales worldwide – is looking
solid at its UK edition, which enjoyed a sales rise of 4.3 per cent
year-on-year to 162,112. It is another magazine that recently lost a
well established editor – in Febuary Bill Emmott stood down after 13
years at the helm.
Elsewhere in the news and current affairs sector: Private Eye continues
to lead the UK pack, with a sale slightly down 1.2 per to 207,437; The
Week jumped 13.9 per cent to 120,777 and The Oldie may have suffered
from a few readers dropping off their perches, sales of it dropped 10.5
per cent to 23,412.
Figures for the recently relaunched New Statesman are expected to be released separately, some time in the next fortnight.
Business and current affairs mag ABCs Jan to June 2006 (year-on-year)
Economist UK edition: 162,112, up 4.3 per cent
Private Eye: 207,437, down 1.2 per cent
The Spectator: 70,090, up 4.4 per cent
The Oldie: 23,412, down 10.5 per cent
Time Magazine (British Isles):142,314, up 2.3 per cent
The Week: 120,777, up 13.9 per cent
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog