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February 23, 2011

Regional ABCs: Circulation falls on 92% of weeklies

By Oliver Luft

More than ninety per cent of paid-for weekly local and regional papers in the UK recorded a year-on-year fall in circulation in the second-half of last year, according to figures out today.

Data supplied by the Audit Bureau of Circulations reveals that just 29 of 383 paid-for weekly titles accredited by the organisation put on circulation in the last six months of 2010.

The troubled state of the paid-for weekly newspaper market was highlighted by 53 titles suffering a double-digit year-on-year fall in circulation over the six month period.

Five paid-for weekly titles recorded a double-digit increase in circulation.

The Hastings Observer’s 71.3 per cent increase to 32,853 was due to it incorporating the figures of the Bexhill Observer, Rye Observer and Battle Observer which were previously audited separately.


Paid-for weekly regional and local newspapers

(Figures show: title, circulation, y-o-y change)

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  • Accrington Observer 11,075 -12.6%
  • Ads for Free 8,714 -27.4%
  • Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 13,985 -2.4%
  • Aldershot News & Mail (Series) 11,224 -10.9%
  • Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 7,298 -5.9%
  • Andersonstown News 12,090 -4.3%
  • Andersonstown News (Monday) 6,761 -4.6%
  • Andover Advertiser 12,644 -7.1%
  • Annandale Herald 2,872 -3.5%
  • Annandale Observer 5,953 -4.5%
  • Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 11,747 -8.3%
  • Arran Banner 3,209 1.2%
  • Ayr Advertiser 3,491 -14.0%
  • Ayrshire Post 23,493 -2.1%
  • Ballymena Times 3,664 -3.2%
  • Banbridge Chronicle 4,857 -9.1%
  • Banbury Guardian 13,852 -4.9%
  • Banffshire Journal 4,700 -1.1%
  • Barnsley Chronicle 37,711 -4.3%
  • Barry & District News 5,732 -1.5%
  • Basingstoke Midweek Gazette 4,487 -22.1%
  • Basingstoke Weekend Gazette 15,000 -8.7%
  • Bath Chronicle 17,090 -4.7%
  • Batley & Birstall News 6,717 -1.5%
  • Beccles & Bungay Journal 6,852 0.3%
  • Belper News 2,787 -7.3%
  • Berwick Advertiser 7,024 -5.0%
  • Berwickshire News & East Lothian Herald 5,240 -4.1%
  • Bicester Advertiser 4,069 -9.8%
  • Biggleswade Chronicle 8,699 -3.3%
  • Birmingham Post 11,935 -3.4%
  • Blairgowrie Advertiser 2,238 -9.8%
  • Border Telegraph 3,692 -6.0%
  • Boston Standard 8,756 -12.6%
  • Bracknell News 3,739 8.7%
  • Braintree & Witham Times 11,389 -4.3%
  • Brechin Advertiser 2,723 -6.4%
  • Brentwood Gazette 12,608 -6.5%
  • Bridgnorth Journal 7,782 -6.9%
  • Bridgwater Mercury 11,919 -3.3%
  • Bridlington Free Press 13,808 -6.1%
  • Bridport News 9,232 -4.1%
  • Brighouse Echo 5,520 -15.2%
  • Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser 7,520 -12.2%
  • Bucks Advertiser & Examiner (Series) 10,918 -9.6%
  • Bucks Free Press 18,997 -6.6%
  • Bucks Free Press – Midweek 4,166 -2.4%
  • Bucks Herald 13,053 -9.3%
  • Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News 2,462 -0.8%
  • Burnley Express (Fri) 14,040 -8.2%
  • Burnley Express (Tue) 9,465 -8.4%
  • Bury Free Press 22,178 -7.3%
  • Bury Times (Series) 18,134 -8.2%
  • Buxton Advertiser 11,024 -5.2%
  • Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald (Series) 11,856 -4.0%
  • Caithness Courier 6,249 -3.6%
  • Campbeltown Courier & Argyllshire Advertiser (Series) 6,688 -3.6%
  • Cardigan & Tivy-Side Advertiser 7,030 -6.1%
  • Carmarthen Journal 18,420 -0.8%
  • Carrick Gazette 2,350 -9.5%
  • Central Fife Times & Advertiser 5,702 -7.9%
  • Chard & Ilminster News 6,156 -5.9%
  • Chester Chronicle (Series) 19,712 -4.6%
  • Chichester Observer 29,840 -8.2%
  • Chorley Guardian 12,683 0.4%
  • Clacton Gazette 15,201 -1.7%
  • Clitheroe Advertiser & Times 7,630 -5.9%
  • Clydebank Post 10,003 -6.7%
  • Coalville Times 8,246 -4.2%
  • Coleraine Times 7,133 -6.2%
  • Cornish Guardian (Series) 28,629 -2.4%
  • Cornishman 16,579 0.2%
  • County Derry Post 4,810 -7.3%
  • County Down Spectator 8,967 -7.7%
  • County Times and Express 15,406 -3.6%
  • Craven Herald & Pioneer 13,617 -9.7%
  • Crawley Observer 7,321 -9.0%
  • Crewe Chronicle (Series) 14,301 -6.2%
  • Crosby Herald 6,939 -19.0%
  • Cumberland & Westmorland Herald 17,466 -2.0%
  • Cumberland News 27,684 -8.0%
  • Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle 9,020 -5.1%
  • Cumnock Chronicle 6,428 -5.8%
  • Cynon Valley Leader 6,793 -10.8%
  • Darlington & Stockton Times 23,775 -2.1%
  • Daventry Express 7,661 -8.0%
  • Deeside Piper 5,457 -3.2%
  • Denbighshire Free Press 6,815 -2.3%
  • Derbyshire Times (Series) 33,575 -5.4%
  • Dereham & Fakenham Times 6,851 -2.3%
  • Derry Journal (Fri) 18,182 -1.9%
  • Derry Journal (Tue) 15,848 -3.8%
  • Derry News – Monday 5,936 -7.4%
  • Derry News – Thursday 5,858 -8.4%
  • Dewsbury Reporter 9,803 -9.5%
  • Diss Express 7,182 -2.5%
  • Doncaster Free Press 26,747 -8.3%
  • Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser (Series) 9,914 -4.2%
  • Down Recorder 10,200 -6.1%
  • Driffield Times 4,401 -7.0%
  • Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 3,715 3.9%
  • Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Fri) 14,202 -5.5%
  • Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Wed) 8,514 -7.5%
  • Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser 16,044 -6.2%
  • Dunstable Gazette 3,797 -4.2%
  • Ealing & Acton Gazette (Series) 8,047 -13.7%
  • East Fife Mail 10,112 -2.0%
  • East Kent Gazette (Series) 14,362 -2.9%
  • East Kent Mercury (Series) 11,003 -7.8%
  • East Kilbride News 9,886 -5.7%
  • East Lothian Courier 12,324 -6.6%
  • East Lothian News 3,691 -9.4%
  • Eastbourne Gazette 8,727 -8.8%
  • Eastbourne Herald 22,036 -8.3%
  • Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser 3,985 -0.9%
  • Ellesmere Port Pioneer 3,837 2.0%
  • Ely Standard 6,412 -53.0%
  • Epping Forest Guardian 6,481 -12.5%
  • Essex Chronicle 28,872 -2.0%
  • Essex County Standard 16,614 -3.2%
  • Exmouth Journal 8,206 -2.8%
  • Falkirk Herald 24,062 -1.1%
  • Faversham News 2,827 -5.3%
  • Fermanagh Herald 13,376 1.3%
  • Fife Free Press 14,013 -1.7%
  • Fife Herald News & St. Andrews Citizen 11,993 -2.4%
  • Folkestone Herald (Series) 15,960 -4.8%
  • Forfar Dispatch 4,721 -6.3%
  • Forres Gazette 3,305 -3.8%
  • Free Press – Monmouth (Series) 6,611 -11.3%
  • Gainsborough Standard 3,698 2.0%
  • Garstang Courier 4,594 -2.0%
  • Gazette & Herald (Series) 22,593 -3.9%
  • Glamorgan Gazette (Series) 16,447 -9.4%
  • Glenrothes Gazette 5,508 -7.0%
  • Gloucestershire County Gazette (Series) 12,784 -4.0%
  • Grantham Journal 16,894 -6.4%
  • Gravesend & Dartford Messenger (Series) 5,227 -9.0%
  • Great Yarmouth Mercury 17,166 0.2%
  • Gwent Gazette 6,576 -12.9%
  • Halstead Gazette 4,717 -1.4%
  • Hamilton Advertiser (Series) 19,463 -4.5%
  • Hampshire Chronicle 12,906 -2.8%
  • Harborough Mail 10,429 -6.6%
  • Harrogate Advertiser 13,650 -2.3%
  • Harwich & Manningtree Standard 6,049 -1.0%
  • Hastings Observer 32,853 71.3%
  • Haverhill Echo 3,953 -12.0%
  • Hawick News and Scottish Border Chronicle 5,317 1.9%
  • Hebden Bridge Times 2,766 -18.2%
  • Helensburgh Advertiser 5,407 -4.1%
  • Hemel Hempstead Gazette 10,216 -9.4%
  • Hemsworth & South Elmsall Express 6,194 -3.7%
  • Henley and South Oxfordshire Standard 11,012 -2.4%
  • Herald (Series) 11,460 -8.3%
  • Hereford Times 34,705 -2.3%
  • Herne Bay Gazette 2,922 -9.1%
  • Hertfordshire Mercury (Series) 21,565 -5.9%
  • Herts & Essex Observer (Series) 13,126 -4.9%
  • Hexham Courant 15,882 -3.8%
  • Heywood Advertiser 4,953 -14.3%
  • Highland News 7,751 -1.9%
  • Hinckley Times 12,970 -3.9%
  • Holyhead & Anglesey Mail 8,542 -2.7%
  • Horncastle News 4,478 -9.1%
  • Hucknall Dispatch 7,069 -6.7%
  • Ilkeston Advertiser 7,838 -5.0%
  • Ilkley Gazette (Incorp. The Ilkley Free Press) 4,765 -9.0%
  • Impartial Reporter 13,093 -1.8%
  • Inverness Courier (Fri) 14,389 -6.6%
  • Inverness Courier (Tue) 10,505 -5.5%
  • Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle 8,873 -5.0%
  • Irvine Times 2,851 -0.3%
  • Isle of Man Examiner 11,160 -4.9%
  • Isle of Thanet Gazette 10,841 -16.3%
  • Isle of Wight County Press 35,384 -3.5%
  • John O’Groat Journal 7,850 -5.0%
  • Keighley News 11,679 -8.8%
  • Kenilworth Weekly News 3,120 -11.7%
  • Kent and Sussex Courier 26,934 -3.5%
  • Kent Messenger (Series) 40,010 -6.7%
  • Kentish Express (Series) 17,067 -7.1%
  • Kentish Gazette (Series) 12,504 -9.2%
  • Kilmarnock Standard (Ayrshire Weekly News and Irvine Valley News) 15,585 -3.2%
  • Kirkintilloch Herald 10,078 -1.7%
  • Knaresborough Post 2,978 -5.5%
  • Knutsford Guardian 5,019 -4.6%
  • Lanark & Carluke Gazette 10,323 -7.9%
  • Lancaster Guardian 13,786 -4.4%
  • Largs & Millport Weekly News 5,179 -4.7%
  • Larne Times 8,946 -0.4%
  • Leamington Spa Courier 11,012 -9.5%
  • Leek Post & Times 11,515 9.0%
  • Leighton Buzzard Observer 5,996 0.6%
  • Lennox Herald 9,519 -6.7%
  • Lincolnshire Free Press 15,429 -6.0%
  • Linlithgowshire Journal & Gazette 7,691 -5.2%
  • Littlehampton Gazette 8,988 -7.9%
  • Llanelli Star 13,754 -0.9%
  • Lochaber News 3,077 -4.2%
  • Londonderry Sentinel 4,451 -0.5%
  • Longridge & Ribble Valley News & Advertiser 2,931 -5.7%
  • Loughborough Echo 17,595 -5.6%
  • Louth Leader 8,262 -8.9%
  • Lowestoft Journal 16,933 2.8%
  • Ludlow Advertiser (Series) 4,682 -4.3%
  • Lurgan Mail 7,418 -3.0%
  • Luton News 7,795 -10.4%
  • Lynn News (Fri) 23,755 -5.7%
  • Lynn News (Tue) 16,494 -3.9%
  • Lytham St. Annes Express 7,461 -1.7%
  • Macclesfield Express 12,451 -10.3%
  • Maidenhead Advertiser 18,763 -5.3%
  • Maidenhead Advertiser – Complimentary Pick Ups 963 N/A
  • Maldon & Burnham Standard 7,652 -4.4%
  • Malton and Pickering Mercury 2,649 -9.0%
  • Malvern Gazette 14,749 -2.2%
  • Mansfield Chad (Series) 35,729 -9.8%
  • Manx Independent 10,537 -5.0%
  • Market Rasen Mail 3,616 -9.6%
  • Matlock Mercury 6,855 -8.1%
  • Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Observer (Series) 4,331 -9.5%
  • Medway Messenger (Monday) 9,252 -13.3%
  • Melton Times 10,767 -5.8%
  • Merthyr Express (Series) 12,451 -12.2%
  • Mid Somerset Gazette (Series) 8,318 -1.8%
  • Mid Somerset Journal (Series) 8,537 -1.7%
  • Mid Sussex Times 11,416 -0.1%
  • Mid Ulster Mail 8,652 -4.2%
  • Middleton Guardian 5,621 -14.9%
  • Midlothian Advertiser 6,396 -3.3%
  • Milford & West Wales Mercury 3,659 -9.9%
  • Milngavie & Bearsden Herald 5,542 -2.7%
  • Moffat News 1,077 -4.6%
  • Montrose Review 4,346 -6.8%
  • Morley Observer & Advertiser 4,780 -7.7%
  • Morpeth Herald 2,571 -11.5%
  • Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker 12,101 -5.0%
  • Mourne Observer 10,839 -2.1%
  • Nelson Leader (Series) 12,630 -7.7%
  • Newbury Weekly News 19,448 -4.7%
  • Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Sunday Sun 52,216 -11.3%
  • Newmarket Journal 8,328 -8.9%
  • Newport Advertiser (Series) 7,391 -6.1%
  • Newry Reporter 12,414 -6.3%
  • Newtownards Chronicle & County Down Observer 8,872 -4.6%
  • Newtownards Spectator 698 -17.3%
  • North Belfast News 4,438 5.5%
  • North Devon Journal (Series) 27,738 -2.5%
  • North Norfolk News 7,422 0.6%
  • North Star 4,698 -4.3%
  • North Wales Weekly News (Series) 14,127 -5.3%
  • Northern Scot 16,618 -3.9%
  • Northern Times 4,557 -3.5%
  • Northumberland Gazette 9,512 -5.0%
  • Northwich Guardian 11,940 -6.1%
  • Oban Times (Series) 15,512 -4.0%
  • Orcadian 9,274 -1.8%
  • Ormskirk Advertiser (Series) 7,385 -16.2%
  • Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer 9,384 -8.1%
  • Oxford Times 16,827 -13.5%
  • Packet Newspapers – Falmouth 6,422 -3.3%
  • Packet Newspapers – Helston 2,314 0.2%
  • Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette 7,624 -7.5%
  • Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald 1,590 -1.4%
  • Peeblesshire News 4,756 -4.5%
  • Penarth Times 5,280 -1.9%
  • Perthshire Advertiser (Fri) 13,302 -7.1%
  • Perthshire Advertiser (Tue) 6,851 -10.2%
  • Petersfield Post (Series) 7,462 -3.0%
  • Pocklington Post 4,176 5.9%
  • Pontefract & Castleford Express 20,279 -6.4%
  • Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer 7,287 -13.8%
  • Portadown Times 9,578 -0.9%
  • Prestwich and Whitefield Guide 2,202 -20.1%
  • Reading Chronicle 7,233 -2.1%
  • Reading Post 12,018 -19.5%
  • Retford Gainsborough & Worksop Times 8,888 -5.1%
  • Rhondda Leader 8,740 -12.1%
  • Ripley & Heanor News 8,432 -6.5%
  • Ripon Gazette 5,066 -6.7%
  • Rochdale Observer (Sat) 17,392 -8.8%
  • Rochdale Observer (Wed) 11,438 -12.2%
  • Romsey Advertiser 6,606 -3.7%
  • Rossendale Free Press 11,339 -12.4%
  • Ross-shire Journal 8,719 -5.7%
  • Rotherham & South Yorkshire Advertiser 28,738 -5.9%
  • Rugby Advertiser 9,639 -4.5%
  • Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News (Series) 10,469 -2.0%
  • Rutherglen Reformer 3,610 -2.5%
  • Rutland & Stamford Mercury 16,772 -6.4%
  • Rutland Times 3,378 -12.0%
  • Salisbury Journal (Series) 23,055 -4.8%
  • Selby Times 7,565 -4.5%
  • Sevenoaks Chronicle 10,417 -3.4%
  • Sheerness Times Guardian 7,253 -9.5%
  • Sidmouth Herald 6,539 -3.2%
  • Skegness Standard 8,847 -7.0%
  • Sleaford Standard 3,055 -7.8%
  • Slough Eton & Windsor Observer 7,039 -7.9%
  • Somerset and Avon Guardian 7,203 -3.6%
  • Somerset County Gazette (Series) 25,714 -2.8%
  • Somerset Standard 6,496 -3.6%
  • South Shropshire Journal (Series) 8,068 -1.8%
  • South Wales Guardian 6,323 -10.0%
  • South Yorkshire Times 4,329 -2.9%
  • Southern Reporter 15,617 -4.8%
  • Southport Visiter 11,632 -10.2%
  • Spalding Guardian 12,977 -6.6%
  • Spenborough Guardian 6,834 -5.4%
  • Stirling Observer (Fri) 3,471 -10.4%
  • Stirling Observer (Wed) 8,439 -9.6%
  • Stockport Express 12,635 -2.4%
  • Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser 10,889 -4.9%
  • Strabane Chronicle 5,466 -0.3%
  • Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press 7,599 -1.5%
  • Strathearn Herald 2,219 -13.8%
  • Strathspey & Badenoch Herald 4,642 -1.2%
  • Stroud News & Journal 12,226 -6.4%
  • Suffolk Free Press 7,937 -2.8%
  • Sunday Journal 2,598 -0.7%
  • Sunday Life 54,435 -9.4%
  • Sunday Mercury 43,610 -12.0%
  • Surrey Advertiser (Series) 25,719 -6.6%
  • Surrey Comet 7,100 -6.7%
  • Surrey Herald & Staines News (Series) 10,853 -10.7%
  • Surrey Mirror (Series) 11,294 -3.0%
  • Sussex Express & County Herald 12,473 -5.2%
  • Tamworth Herald (Series) 19,996 -8.6%
  • The Arbroath Herald (inc Broughty Ferry, Carnoustie, Monifieth Guide & Gazette) (Series) 9,070 -4.0%
  • The Buchan Observer 6,335 -8.6%
  • The Buteman 2,852 -5.4%
  • The Ellon Times and Inverurie Herald (Series) 3,204 -2.2%
  • The Epworth Bells & Crowle Advertiser 2,849 -4.7%
  • The Fraserburgh Herald 4,864 -7.0%
  • The Galloway Gazette 4,891 -10.5%
  • The Galloway News 7,867 -4.5%
  • The Leader 3,509 0.4%
  • The Mid Devon Gazette 10,384 -6.0%
  • The Sheffield Telegraph 15,543 -5.7%
  • The Visitor 12,032 -1.4%
  • The Watford Observer 17,243 -6.1%
  • The West Lothian Courier 13,917 -3.4%
  • Todmorden News 3,339 -15.8%
  • Tyrone Herald 6,841 6.8%
  • Tyrone Times 3,660 1.3%
  • Ulster Herald 12,112 -1.9%
  • Ulster Star 8,183 -5.7%
  • Uttoxeter Post & Times 3,470 -2.5%
  • Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette (Series) 11,859 -10.9%
  • Wakefield Express 27,981 -4.9%
  • Wales on Sunday 28,613 -11.3%
  • Waltham Forest Guardian 7,748 -12.9%
  • Wanstead & Woodford Guardian 3,128 -15.1%
  • Warrington Guardian 28,451 -6.8%
  • Wee County News 6,045 3.1%
  • Welwyn Hatfield Times 13,743 -3.1%
  • West Briton (Series) 35,080 -0.2%
  • West Cumberland Times & Star 15,326 -5.6%
  • West Highland Free Press 8,233 -4.7%
  • West Sussex County Times 18,893 -6.5%
  • West Sussex Gazette & South Of England Advertiser 6,432 -6.6%
  • Western Gazette (Series) 29,184 -5.2%
  • Western Telegraph 21,438 -4.7%
  • Westmorland Gazette 26,727 -3.8%
  • Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury 16,115 1.3%
  • Wetherby News 4,144 -5.9%
  • Wharfedale & Airedale Observer 3,873 -11.5%
  • Whitby Gazette 10,302 -5.3%
  • Whitby Gazette – Tuesday 5,459 -4.4%
  • Whitchurch Herald 3,876 0.8%
  • Whitehaven News 14,596 -5.5%
  • Wigan Observer 13,682 -6.8%
  • Wilts & Glos Standard 11,592 -6.2%
  • Wiltshire Times 15,405 -4.8%
  • Winsford & Middlewich Guardian 5,257 -5.2%
  • Wishaw Press 7,927 -5.4%
  • Witney Gazette 6,777 -5.0%
  • Woking News & Mail (Series) 5,760 -16.0%
  • Wokingham Times (Series) 8,088 60.9%
  • Worksop Guardian 15,029 -1.3%
  • Worthing & Shoreham Herald 20,145 15.3%
  • Yorkshire – Gazette & Herald 11,371 -3.6%

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