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August 25, 2010

Regional ABCs: 90% paid-for weeklies drop circulation

By Oliver Luft

Ninety per cent of paid-for weekly local and regional papers in the UK recorded year-on-year falls in circulation in the first-half of 2010, according to figures out today.

Data supplied by the Audit Bureau of Circulations reveals that just 35 of 345 paid-for weekly titles accredited by the organisation avoided having their circulation decline in the first six months of the year.

The troubled state of the paid-for weekly newspaper market was highlighted by 57 titles suffering a double-digit year-on-year fall in circulation in the first-half of 2010.

The biggest fall in circulation was at the Ely Standard which fell 68.4 per cent to a weekly average of 6,010. The next largest was the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, which dropped 21.2 per cent to a weekly average of 2,437.

Three weekly newspapers recorded double-digit increases in their circulation with the Folkestone Herald (Series) leading the way as it grew to a weekly average of 15,795 – an increase of 26 per cent year on year.

The East Kent Gazette (Series) recorded a 24.2 per cent increase year on year to an average weekly circulation of 14,500 during the first-half of 2010.

The only other paper to benefit from a double-digit circulation increase was the Leek Post & Times, which increased 12.5 per cent year on year to a weekly average circulation of 11,738.

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Independent News & Media’s Belfast paper Sunday Life remained the biggest regional weekly paper in the UK with an average circulation of 64,125 in the first-half of the year.

Two titles, the Birmingham Post and the Reading Post, have recently changed frequency from dailies to weeklies so did not have comparable year-on-year figures.

The Birmingham Post’s debut ABC as a weekly title was 13,221, only 60 per cent of which was paid for. This compares with a former daily circulation of 11,442.

Paid-for regional and local newspapers

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

  • Accrington Observer 11,856 -16.8%
  • Ads for Free 10,648 -8.1%
  • Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 14,073 -4.8%
  • Aldershot News & Mail 12,074 -5.9%
  • Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 7,635 -8.1%
  • Annandale Herald 2,936 -3.9%
  • Annandale Observer 6,098 -3.8%
  • Ayrshire Post 23,254 -5.8%
  • Ballymena Times 3,589 -5.6%
  • Banbridge Chronicle 4,987 -7.4%
  • Banbury Guardian 14,539 -2.4%
  • Barnsley Chronicle 38,472 -5.1%
  • Barry & District News 5,910 2.0%
  • Bath Chronicle 18,505 0.5%
  • Batley & Birstall News 6,656 6.0%
  • Beccles & Bungay Journal 6,412 -6.6%
  • Belper News 2,842 -5.0%
  • Berwick Advertiser 6,993 -5.4%
  • Berwickshire News & East Lothian Herald 5,232 -4.9%
  • Bexhill Observer 8,409 -5.3%
  • Bicester Advertiser 4,304 -7.7%
  • Biggleswade Chronicle 8,935 -3.7%
  • Birmingham Post 13,221 N/A
  • Blairgowrie Advertiser 2,309 -11.7%
  • Border Telegraph 3,821 -6.6%
  • Boston Standard 9,412 -5.0%
  • Bracknell News 3,242 -18.2%
  • Braintree & Witham Times 11,670 -5.1%
  • Brechin Advertiser 2,852 -3.2%
  • Brentwood Gazette 13,115 -3.2%
  • Bridgnorth Journal 8,088 -5.7%
  • Bridlington Free Press 14,160 -0.2%
  • Brighouse Echo 5,650 -14.2%
  • Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser 8,601 4.1%
  • Bucks Advertiser & Examiner (Series) 11,558 -8.4%
  • Bucks Free Press 19,973 -6.6%
  • Bucks Free Press – Midweek 4,200 -2.9%
  • Bucks Herald 13,823 -9.0%
  • Burnley Express (Fri) 14,470 -10.9%
  • Burnley Express (Tue) 10,049 -6.5%
  • Bury Free Press 23,461 -5.7%
  • Bury Times (Series) 18,994 -7.6%
  • Buxton Advertiser 11,183 -4.8%
  • Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald (Series) 12,013 -4.2%
  • Cardigan & Tivy-Side Advertiser 7,085 -4.3%
  • Carmarthen Journal 18,402 -4.2%
  • Carrick Gazette 2,456 -4.5%
  • Central Fife Times & Advertiser 5,950 -8.4%
  • Chester Chronicle (Series) 20,224 -7.5%
  • Chichester Observer 31,253 -5.5%
  • Chorley Guardian 12,801 0.0%
  • Clacton Gazette 15,035 -0.6%
  • Clitheroe Advertiser & Times 7,829 -5.9%
  • Coalville Times 8,283 -1.5%
  • Coleraine Times 7,124 -4.4%
  • Cornish Guardian (Series) 28,445 -5.4%
  • Cornishman 16,187 -0.9%
  • County Derry Post 4,754 -9.4%
  • County Times and Express 15,763 -0.1%
  • Craven Herald & Pioneer 14,096 -10.4%
  • Crawley Observer 7,157 -9.0%
  • Crewe Chronicle (Series) 14,523 -6.4%
  • Crosby Herald 7,560 -16.7%
  • Croydon Advertiser 15,599 -9.7%
  • Cumberland & Westmorland Herald 17,795 0.1%
  • Cumberland News 28,704 -5.5%
  • Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle 8,993 -12.0%
  • Cynon Valley Leader 7,404 -11.6%
  • Darlington & Stockton Times 24,239 -2.5%
  • Daventry Express 7,994 -5.3%
  • Deeside Piper 5,520 -4.1%
  • Denbighshire Free Press 6,745 -1.2%
  • Derbyshire Times 34,092 -6.6%
  • Dereham & Fakenham Times 6,859 -3.2%
  • Derry Journal (Fri) 18,105 -5.6%
  • Derry Journal (Tue) 16,456 -3.4%
  • Derry News – Monday 5,940 -4.7%
  • Derry News – Thursday 6,193 -6.1%
  • Dewsbury Reporter 10,109 -7.3%
  • Diss Express 7,291 -2.8%
  • Doncaster Free Press 27,400 -7.7%
  • Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser 10,132 -3.5%
  • Down Recorder 10,667 -2.0%
  • Driffield Times 4,548 -3.2%
  • Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Fri) 14,552 -5.9%
  • Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Wed) 8,771 -7.5%
  • Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser 16,624 -8.1%
  • Dunstable Gazette 3,973 -4.1%
  • Ealing & Acton Gazette (Series) 8,908 -13.3%
  • East Fife Mail 9,903 -6.8%
  • East Kent Gazette (Series) 14,500 24.2%
  • East Kent Mercury (Series) 11,368 -4.5%
  • East Kilbride News 10,492 -6.9%
  • East Lothian Courier 12,710 -6.9%
  • East Lothian News 3,979 -1.9%
  • Eastbourne Gazette 8,650 -11.3%
  • Eastbourne Herald 22,411 -3.6%
  • Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser 3,890 -5.4%
  • Ellesmere Port Pioneer 3,861 -7.3%
  • Ely Standard 6,010 -68.4%
  • Epping Forest Guardian 6,908 -15.3%
  • Epworth Bells 2,853 -5.7%
  • Essex Chronicle 28,816 -4.7%
  • Essex County Standard 16,983 -2.6%
  • Exmouth Journal 8,245 -3.6%
  • Falkirk Herald 24,145 -6.0%
  • Faversham News 2,963 -2.7%
  • Fermanagh Herald 13,169 0.0%
  • Fife Free Press 13,858 -6.7%
  • Fife Herald News & St. Andrews Citizen 12,084 -2.2%
  • Filey and Hunmanby Mercury 2,656 -5.3%
  • Folkestone Herald (Series) 15,795 26.0%
  • Forfar Dispatch 4,920 -3.4%
  • Free Press – Monmouth (Series) 6,641 -18.6%
  • Gainsborough Standard 3,630 -1.1%
  • Garstang Courier 4,552 -2.6%
  • Gazette & Herald 23,098 -5.3%
  • Glamorgan Gazette (Series) 17,049 -12.2%
  • Glenrothes Gazette 6,206 2.1%
  • Gloucestershire County Gazette (Series) 12,898 -4.6%
  • Grantham Journal 17,838 -4.9%
  • Gravesend & Dartford Messenger (Series) 5,447 -9.6%
  • Great Yarmouth Mercury 16,244 -6.3%
  • Gwent Gazette 7,119 -17.5%
  • Halstead Gazette 4,722 -1.2%
  • Hamilton Advertiser (Series) 20,181 -6.7%
  • Harborough Mail 10,802 -3.3%
  • Harrogate Advertiser 13,992 0.6%
  • Harrow Observer (Series) 5,695 -19.9%
  • Harwich & Manningtree Standard 6,077 1.2%
  • Hastings & St Leonards Observer 17,918 -4.6%
  • Haverhill Echo 4,239 -6.5%
  • Hawick News and Scottish Border Chronicle 5,254 0.2%
  • Hebden Bridge Times 2,971 -13.3%
  • Hemel Hempstead Gazette 11,082 -4.5%
  • Hemsworth & South Elmsall Express 6,202 -0.5%
  • Herald (Series) 11,782 -8.9%
  • Hereford Times 35,243 -4.0%
  • Herne Bay Gazette 3,089 -15.7%
  • Hertfordshire Mercury (Series) 22,392 -5.5%
  • Herts & Essex Observer (Series) 13,423 -6.1%
  • Hexham Courant 16,304 -3.5%
  • Heywood Advertiser 5,161 -15.7%
  • Hinckley Times 13,047 -7.7%
  • Holyhead & Anglesey Mail 8,407 -3.0%
  • Horncastle News 4,710 -4.6%
  • Hucknall Dispatch 7,211 -8.2%
  • Ilkeston Advertiser & Erewash Valley Weekly News 7,874 -5.9%
  • Ilkley Gazette (Incorp. The Ilkley Free Press) 4,903 -10.5%
  • Impartial Reporter 13,103 -3.5%
  • Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle 9,039 -5.3%
  • Isle of Man Examiner 11,562 -4.1%
  • Isle of Thanet Gazette 10,957 -14.7%
  • Isle of Wight County Press 35,842 -3.2%
  • Keighley News 11,964 -9.0%
  • Kenilworth Weekly News 3,446 -7.0%
  • Kent and Sussex Courier 27,785 -2.6%
  • Kent Messenger (Series) 41,410 -6.9%
  • Kentish Express (Series) 17,594 -5.7%
  • Kentish Gazette (Series) 13,185 -9.5%
  • Kilmarnock Standard (Ayrshire Weekly News and Irvine Valley News) 15,639 -4.8%
  • Kirkintilloch Herald 10,218 -5.6%
  • Knaresborough Post 3,129 0.5%
  • Knutsford Guardian 5,037 -10.8%
  • Lanark & Carluke Gazette 10,733 -5.5%
  • Lancaster Guardian 14,517 -2.9%
  • Larne Times 8,929 -3.1%
  • Leamington Spa Courier 12,081 -2.7%
  • Leek Post & Times 11,738 12.5%
  • Leighton Buzzard Observer 5,875 -5.6%
  • Lennox Herald 9,633 -9.2%
  • Lincolnshire Free Press 16,072 -4.8%
  • Linlithgowshire Journal & Gazette 7,821 -5.6%
  • Littlehampton Gazette 9,313 -5.8%
  • Llanelli Star 14,023 -2.5%
  • Londonderry Sentinel 4,410 1.9%
  • Longridge & Ribble Valley News & Advertiser 3,161 3.2%
  • Loughborough Echo 17,801 -4.4%
  • Louth Leader 8,409 -6.2%
  • Lowestoft Journal 15,591 -5.9%
  • Ludlow Advertiser (Series) 4,708 -9.3%
  • Lurgan Mail 7,480 -7.3%
  • Luton News 8,232 -10.9%
  • Lynn News (Fri) 24,800 -4.7%
  • Lynn News (Tue) 16,766 -5.5%
  • Lytham St. Annes Express 7,474 -8.3%
  • Macclesfield Express 13,165 -11.5%
  • Maidenhead Advertiser 19,701 -5.3%
  • Maldon & Burnham Standard 7,723 -6.5%
  • Malton and Pickering Mercury 2,781 4.9%
  • Malvern Gazette 14,828 -3.7%
  • Mansfield Chad (Series) 37,019 -9.3%
  • Manx Independent 10,683 -2.9%
  • Market Rasen Mail 3,699 -9.7%
  • Matlock Mercury 7,045 -6.3%
  • Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Observer (Series) 4,448 -11.0%
  • Medway Messenger (Monday) 9,741 -18.5%
  • Melton Times 11,204 -4.5%
  • Merthyr Express (Series) 13,402 -13.8%
  • Mid Somerset Gazette (Series) 8,416 -2.3%
  • Mid Somerset Journal (Series) 8,626 -1.4%
  • Mid Sussex Times 11,334 -4.8%
  • Mid Ulster Mail 8,850 -4.6%
  • Middleton Guardian 5,988 -16.1%
  • Midlothian Advertiser 6,596 -1.4%
  • Milford & West Wales Mercury 3,685 -13.3%
  • Milngavie & Bearsden Herald 5,775 -3.7%
  • Moffat News 1,112 -2.5%
  • Montrose Review 4,333 -10.1%
  • Morley Observer & Advertiser 5,098 -0.1%
  • Morpeth Herald 2,759 -5.2%
  • Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker 12,267 -3.9%
  • Mourne Observer 10,802 -3.1%
  • Nelson Leader (Series) 13,030 -7.0%
  • Newbury Weekly News 20,095 -4.0%
  • Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Sunday Sun 53,466 -7.6%
  • Newmarket Journal 8,746 -4.7%
  • Newport Advertiser 7,580 -6.9%
  • Newry Democrat 7,821 -3.1%
  • Newry Reporter 12,785 -5.9%
  • North Devon Journal (Series) 27,694 -3.4%
  • North Norfolk News 7,164 -3.7%
  • North Wales Weekly News (Series) 14,304 -5.4%
  • Northumberland Gazette 9,537 -3.8%
  • Northwich Guardian 12,358 -6.2%
  • Orcadian 9,297 -2.5%
  • Orkney Today 4,797 -9.7%
  • Ormskirk Advertiser (Series) 7,971 -11.1%
  • Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer 9,675 -2.9%
  • Oxford Times 18,196 -11.4%
  • Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald 1,582 0.0%
  • Peeblesshire News 4,846 -5.9%
  • Penarth Times 5,438 -1.6%
  • Perthshire Advertiser (Fri) 13,673 -9.7%
  • Perthshire Advertiser (Tue) 7,055 -10.5%
  • Petersfield Post (Series) 7,656 -0.9%
  • Pocklington Post 3,936 0.4%
  • Pontefract & Castleford Express 20,705 -6.1%
  • Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer 7,829 -18.2%
  • Portadown Times 9,679 -1.3%
  • Prestwich and Whitefield Guide 2,437 -21.2%
  • Reading Chronicle 7,019 -15.1%
  • Reading Post 13,441 N/A
  • Retford Gainsborough & Worksop Times 9,314 -6.8%
  • Rhondda Leader 9,317 -15.3%
  • Ripley & Heanor News 8,704 -5.6%
  • Ripon Gazette 5,193 -7.0%
  • Rochdale Observer (Sat) 18,274 -10.4%
  • Rochdale Observer (Wed) 11,935 -14.3%
  • Rossendale Free Press 11,786 -14.0%
  • Rotherham & South Yorkshire Advertiser 29,624 -7.3%
  • Rugby Advertiser 10,144 1.6%
  • Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News (Series) 10,389 -4.5%
  • Rutherglen Reformer 3,593 -7.9%
  • Rutland & Stamford Mercury 17,706 -4.6%
  • Rutland Times 3,516 -9.8%
  • Rye & Battle Observer 5,921 -1.3%
  • Selby Times 7,689 -5.5%
  • Sevenoaks Chronicle 10,842 -1.7%
  • Sheerness Times Guardian 7,494 -5.2%
  • Shoreham Herald 3,749 -7.9%
  • Sidmouth Herald 6,506 -3.8%
  • Skegness Standard 8,609 -6.9%
  • Sleaford Standard 3,142 -10.6%
  • Somerset and Avon Guardian 7,378 -4.5%
  • Somerset Standard 6,457 -1.7%
  • South Shropshire Journal 7,963 -5.4%
  • South Wales Guardian 6,707 -8.7%
  • South Yorkshire Times 4,484 -3.7%
  • Southern Reporter 15,998 -4.5%
  • Southport Visiter 12,092 -10.2%
  • Spalding Guardian 13,458 -4.9%
  • Spenborough Guardian 7,027 -3.3%
  • Stirling Observer (Fri) 3,573 -12.5%
  • Stirling Observer (Wed) 8,738 -12.1%
  • Stockport Express 12,603 -10.5%
  • Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser 11,057 -3.6%
  • Strabane Chronicle 5,560 0.2%
  • Strathearn Herald 2,315 -13.1%
  • Stroud News & Journal 12,613 -7.6%
  • Suffolk Free Press 8,187 -1.5%
  • Sunday Journal 2,684 8.5%
  • Sunday Life 64,125 -2.7%
  • Sunday Mercury 46,124 -8.4%
  • Surrey Advertiser 26,468 -3.9%
  • Surrey Comet 7,541 -8.9%
  • Surrey Herald & Staines News (Series) 11,142 -13.8%
  • Surrey Mirror 11,690 -2.5%
  • Sussex Express & County Herald 12,615 -5.1%
  • Tamworth Herald 21,186 -8.8%
  • The Arbroath Herald (inc Broughty Ferry, Carnoustie, Monifieth Guide & Gazette) (Series) 9,227 -4.5%
  • The Buchan Observer 6,607 -5.2%
  • The Buteman 2,875 -3.4%
  • The Ellon Times and Inverurie Herald (Series) 3,325 -6.6%
  • The Forester 9,791 -2.4%
  • The Fraserburgh Herald 5,038 -6.2%
  • The Galloway Gazette 5,114 -7.9%
  • The Galloway News 7,821 -5.8%
  • The Leader 3,534 0.7%
  • The Mid Devon Gazette 10,784 -6.1%
  • The Sheffield Telegraph 15,928 -10.3%
  • The Visitor 12,286 -0.7%
  • The Watford Observer 17,944 -5.0%
  • The West Lothian Courier 13,813 -11.3%
  • Todmorden News 3,547 -12.9%
  • Tyrone Herald 6,531 0.1%
  • Tyrone Times 3,661 6.6%
  • Ulster Herald 12,311 -2.3%
  • Ulster Star 8,340 -4.5%
  • Uttoxeter Post & Times 3,507 -4.1%
  • Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette (Series) 12,422 -11.4%
  • Wakefield Express 28,994 -4.5%
  • Wales on Sunday 31,315 -9.7%
  • Waltham Forest Guardian 8,113 -20.6%
  • Wanstead & Woodford Guardian 3,426 -17.7%
  • Warrington Guardian 29,242 -6.8%
  • Wee County News 5,990 -1.8%
  • Welwyn Hatfield Times 14,164 -6.1%
  • West Briton (Series) 34,625 -4.1%
  • West Cumberland Times & Star 15,892 -1.1%
  • West Highland Free Press 8,271 -2.9%
  • West Sussex County Times 19,501 -6.0%
  • West Sussex Gazette & South Of England Advertiser 6,700 4.3%
  • Western Gazette (Series) 30,052 -4.3%
  • Western Telegraph 21,633 -4.7%
  • Westmorland Gazette 26,885 -2.1%
  • Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury 15,517 -1.9%
  • Wetherby News 4,196 -5.6%
  • Wharfedale & Airedale Observer 4,021 -14.3%
  • Whitby Gazette 10,658 0.9%
  • Whitby Gazette – Tuesday 5,585 -2.6%
  • Whitchurch Herald 3,912 0.7%
  • Whitehaven News 15,366 -3.0%
  • Wigan Observer 14,091 -7.9%
  • Wilts & Glos Standard 11,961 -4.6%
  • Wiltshire Times 15,706 -7.4%
  • Winsford & Middlewich Guardian 5,399 -8.9%
  • Wishaw Press 8,161 -10.9%
  • Witney Gazette 6,913 -3.4%
  • Woking News & Mail 6,263 -13.7%
  • Wokingham Times 4,919 -8.8%
  • Worksop Guardian 14,953 -5.5%
  • Worthing Herald 16,563 -5.0%
  • Yorkshire – Gazette & Herald 11,352 -7.9%
  • Yorkshire Sport (Sat) 4,524 -5.2%

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