Bottom Line: Newspapers across the country are experiencing circulation declines, but according to the Wall Street Journal some of those declines in readership may be planned as papers try to shed unprofitable customers. 10-27-2008
Some Newspapers Shed Unprofitable Readers By RUSSELL ADAMS and SHIRA OVIDE Wall Street Journal (10/27/08)
Already struggling from the industry's worst stretch in decades, most of the largest U.S. newspapers saw a decline in print circulation in the six months through September, according to industry estimates of data the Audit Bureau of Circulations is releasing Monday. But the reality is in some ways less bleak than the latest numbers indicate: Some newspapers have raised newsstand prices, curtailed discounted copies and halted delivery to the least profitable customers. Also, while print circulation has been declining for years as readers continue their mass migration to the Web, many publishers point out they are reaching more readers than before through print and online. The problem for publishers is the printed paper commands higher ad rates than the Web so even as more people read newspaper content, the papers pull in less money. Link to entire article:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122507288489970971.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1&
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