ABC National Newspaper Round-Up May 2004

The Guardian regained valuable ground against it broadsheet rivals last month with circulation increasing by a solid 2.1% to just under the 390,000 mark, according to the latest ABC results for May.

The title has been hard hit by the popularity of recent compact launches from the Independent and the Times. However, the decision not to ape its quality rivals appears to be paying off for the paper, which is rumoured to be considering a midsize edition somewhere between a compact and a broadsheet (see Guardian Considers Midsize Edition To Boost Sales).

The Independent continued to prove that size does matter with circulation inching up by 0.3% during April to 261,009 following its decision to go completely tabloid, in a move that consigned the broadsheet edition of the paper to the scrap-heap. However, the Times proved less fortunate with circulation dipping by 0.4% to 652,264 during the same period, despite its own attempt to corner the ‘commuter market’.

Meanwhile in the tabloid sector, the Daily Mirror saw circulation decline by 2.2 month on month to 1,846,734. The paper was seen in focus last month after editor, Piers Morgan, was sacked for publishing hoax pictures allegedly showing British troops abusing Iraqi prisoners.

News International’s rival Sun attempted to cash in on its rival’s misfortune by prompting one of its post boys to apply for the vacant editor’s job. However, the stunt only helped the paper to see a slight 0.4% rise in circulation to 3,360,662.

Things remained relatively quiet in the mid-market during April with Richard Desmond’s Daily Express seeing circulation dip by 0.2% month on month to 938,525. The Daily Mail also faltered with a 0.7% decline during the same period.

Quality Titles

The Business was one of the only titles to see circulation increase in the six months to April. However, the title is expected to see a significant slump after the affect of its distribution deal with the Mail on Sunday tails-off. The Independent experienced an impressive 14% increase during the same period, but its Sunday sibling proved less fortunate with circulation dipping by 5.5% to 208,792.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times suffered a 4.9% year on year dip to 440,529 amid speculation that it is considering a number of changes to its UK edition as part of a concerted effort to revive its waning fortunes. The Sunday Telegraph also performed poorly in the six months to May with circulation dipping by 4.2% year on year to just over 700,000.

Mid-Market Titles

Things were also less than rosy in the mid-market with Desmond’s Daily Express declining by 1.4% year on year in the six months to May and the Sunday Express dipping by 0.7%. The Daily Mail and its Sunday sibling also saw circulation decline.

Popular Titles

Richard Desmond’s Daily Star was the only tabloid title to see any upward movement in the six months to May. The down-market red-top saw circulation rise by a solid 5.4% year on year to 887,859. At the other end of the scale Sport First suffered a hefty 16.4% decline during the same period to 26,403. Trinity Mirror’s People also fared poorly with circulation dropping by 7.9% year on year to 1,035,760.

Metro Titles

Associated Newspapers’ Metro titles continued to perform strongly with their overall certified distribution rising by 3.2% year on year during May to 914,285. The morning free-sheet recently further extended its reach with the launch of a Newcatle edition.

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