Daily circulation at the Star Tribune fell 4.3 percent compared with a year ago, a decline that was in line with the industry-wide trend as publishers trimmed unprofitable distribution and readers migrated to the Internet.
Strib circulation falls, but online visits grow
October 28, 2008 at 4:02AM
For the six months ended Sept. 30, the Star Tribune's average weekday circulation was 322,360, according to a report Monday from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). Average Sunday circulation was 520,828, down 8.6 percent from a year ago.
Across the river in St. Paul, the Pioneer Press reported weekday circulation of 184,973, up 0.3 percent, and Sunday circulation of 246,431, up 0.2 percent.
Ben Taylor, Star Tribune senior vice president for marketing and communications, attributed most of the decline to deliberate cuts in promotional or "third-party" copies, such as copies distributed to hotels.
Taylor pointed to the online figures included with the report, showing StarTribune.com readership of 630,127 for the month of August, up 37 percent from August 2007, and 6,058,917 total unique visitors in August, up 22 percent.
"We're happy that the ABC reports now show what's happening with our total audience, which is a strong growth story," he said. "We currently reach more people in this market than we ever have."
The ABC report did not include online figures for the Pioneer Press.
Nationally, newspaper circulation was down 4.6 percent weekdays and 4.8 percent Sundays. The Star Tribune now ranks as the nation's 10th-largest newspaper in Sunday circulation and 15th in weekday circulation.
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