In a column today, Cincinnati Enquirer Publisher Margaret Buchanan tells readers digital readership is up, even as print circulation declines.
But she underplays the seriousness of that decline.
The occasion for her column is Tuesday's release of circulation figures by the Alliance for Audited Media, known for decades by its former name: the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The AAM's report covered the six months ended March 31.
Buchanan writes: "As of March 31, the Alliance showed the Enquirer’s average Sunday newspaper circulation was 222,028, down 6.4% from the previous six months. The daily average was down 3.9% to 121,906."
She assures readers that these trends are "mirrored nationally."
But it's worth noting that the Enquirer's Sunday and daily circulation actually fell by more than four times the national average. For the 519 biggest papers, the AAM says, Sunday fell just 1.4%. And daily circulation at 593 papers fell an even smaller 0.7 of a percentage point.
The Enquirer's Sunday loss is even more striking became it came at a time when Corporate is focusing a lot of attention on building up circulation that day across the U.S. newspaper division.
But she underplays the seriousness of that decline.
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| Buchanan |
Buchanan writes: "As of March 31, the Alliance showed the Enquirer’s average Sunday newspaper circulation was 222,028, down 6.4% from the previous six months. The daily average was down 3.9% to 121,906."
She assures readers that these trends are "mirrored nationally."
But it's worth noting that the Enquirer's Sunday and daily circulation actually fell by more than four times the national average. For the 519 biggest papers, the AAM says, Sunday fell just 1.4%. And daily circulation at 593 papers fell an even smaller 0.7 of a percentage point.
The Enquirer's Sunday loss is even more striking became it came at a time when Corporate is focusing a lot of attention on building up circulation that day across the U.S. newspaper division.
Nice job, Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteOh Marcie. Do you run these by your boss Peppermint Patty?
ReplyDeleteMy mistake. I get the two confused.
DeleteIt's clear to everyone now that Buchanan is a failure that corporate doesn't know what to do with. This is her 9th or 10th year as chief order-taker at this rag. Wouldn't the most highly regarded publishers in the Gannett system have moved up by now? Either to a larger paper or to corporate. In the absence of a promotion, Buchanan has been stuck managing a business in decline, not exactly what business executives with talent have in mind for their careers. Gannett seems to realize that Buchanan's upside is limited to playing the good Chamber member, local non-profit board joiner, and one not to complain about degrading the product or laying off workers. Otherwise it would have put her scintillating managerial skills to better use. Buchanan, keenly aware of her limitations, is content to collect her rich paycheck and ride the gig as long as she can.
ReplyDelete“Buchanan, keenly aware of her limitations”….Funny.
DeleteNotice no comments to Buchanan's boring column. Come on Madge, you can write a much better, customer-focused column than this. Snore...
ReplyDeleteAsk Buchanan how the Columbus Enquirer is doing she came to Cinn and bragged that this was her home town paper.Buchanan was going to make it the best paper in the world.Now cinn is printed in Columbus. How they got all of the workers jobs.What bullshit Here the door don't let the door hit you in the ass
ReplyDeleteBuchanan has yet to realize that every attempt by her to nakedly spin bad numbers into good really only results in further damaging the credibility of a once strong paper that she’s only lead into the ground, as evidenced by them.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, her tenure has cost far too many their jobs and Gannett untold monies and customers it will never get back.