31.08.11
Archant papers lead the way with ABC circulation increases
Archant has produced industry-leading ABC circulation figures for the second six months in a row with its four daily newspapers being the top performing titles across the whole of England and Wales.
Archant Norfolk's Eastern Daily Press posted figures of (+ 0.6%) to 59,490, while sister title the Norwich Evening News showed (+ 3.4%) to 19,161, Archant Suffolk’s East Anglian Daily Times (- 1.3%) 29,932 and the Evening Star (- 0.4%) at 15,351.
Archant Norfolk also produced across-the-board circulation increases including all of its five weekly titles in the Jan-June 2011 ABC circulation figures, released at noon today.
The five Archant Norfolk weekly paid titles saw increases from the Lowestoft Journal (+ 6.5%), Great Yarmouth Mercury (+ 4.9%), North Norfolk News (+ 0.3%), Beccles & Bungay Journal (+ 4%) and the Dereham & Fakenham Times (+ 0.8%).
Even more impressive is the fact that the two Norfolk daily titles and the Lowestoft Journal also showed industry-leading circulation increases in the previous six months as well.
Other bright spots were Archant Herts & Cambs’ Welwyn Hatfield Times which, thanks to a new commuter edition, increased its circulation by 2.2% to 14,476 copies and Archant South West’s Weston & Somerset Mercury increasing circulation by 0.5%.
Archant chief executive, Adrian Jeakings, said: “I am delighted with these results. Paid-for printed products continue to have a key role to play in delivering an audience for our advertisers. This really shows what can be done with the right combination of engaging, relevant stories and the use of innovative ways of getting our newspapers to readers to support the more traditional channels.”
Don Williamson, Head of Audience Growth at Archant Norfolk, said: “It is tribute to both our commercial and editorial teams that we are producing these sales performances. The level of retail activity and home delivery canvassing is well up on previous years. This sales activity compliments the efforts of our advertising and editorial colleagues - who time and time again produce first class publications for us to sell via our supply chain partners.”
Tim Williams, editor of the Evening News, the best performing daily newspaper in the whole country, said: “These fantastic results are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the Archant team in Norwich. We have probably the best newspaper distribution team nationally, led by Don Williamson and his audience growth team. While our journalists focus 100 per cent on delivering community news which readers want and expect from their local newspaper. There's no national or international news in the Norwich Evening News, for instance - we're about providing local news from the front page, through our feature content and to all our sports coverage, six days a week.
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