Metro newspapers issue circulation figures

The metropolitan area's five major newspapers yesterday reported circulation numbers for the six months ended Sept. 30 that showed lower sales of print copies, but included an expanded count of the digital audience.

Year-over-year total circulation numbers weren't comparable because of new rules from industry monitor Audit Bureau of Circulations that allowed papers for the first time to count the use of digital products such as mobile devices and e-readers, the experts said. Papers also are now permitted to include in their numbers print copies and some website visits not paid for directly by readers.

Print circulation continued its decline, first seen in 1989, while, under the new tabulation, digital or electronic circulation appeared to grow rapidly.

"The industry is going through a transition from print to the Internet," said veteran analyst John Morton. "Print still accounts for 90 percent of the profit and the revenue, and is still what makes these companies able to function."

Newsday yesterday reported its total weekday sales averaged 404,542 copies in the six months ended in September under the new rules. Total circulation was 314,848 in 2010 under the old rules, which incorporated some digital products. Print copies fell 6.9 percent year over year to 292,056.

Sunday sales of Newsday totaled 476,723 copies this year; they were 375,874 under the old rules in 2010. The print edition accounted for 357,371 copies, off 4.6 percent from 2010.

"With two-thirds of Long Island adults reading Newsday each week our print readership remains strong," Newsday spokesman Paul Fleishman said, "and at the same time we are focused on growing our digital audience."

The circulation figures reflect changes to Newsday's print and online editions in March. The company did not include non-employee website usage in its 2010 report, while the other four dailies did.

The New York Times' total weekday circulation averaged 1.1 million copies in the six months ended in September under the new rules. It was 876,638 in 2010 under the old rules. Print copies dropped 4.3 percent year over year to 770,586.

Sunday sales totaled 1.6 million and 1.3 million, respectively. Print copies represented 1.3 million, down 1.8 percent from 2010.

The Wall Street Journal reported weekday circulation of 2.09 million for the most recent period. It was 2.06 million a year ago. The number of print copies fell 3 percent to 1.6 million. The Journal's weekend edition, delivered on Saturdays, totaled 2 million and 1.8 million, respectively. Print copies of that edition rose 7 percent to 1.5 million.

The Daily News had a weekday circulation of 601,097 recently. It was 512,520 in 2010. Print copies dropped 11.5 percent to 435,656. Sunday sales were 666,892 and 568,266, respectively. Print copies of that edition accounted for 499,971, an 8.7 percent drop from 2010.

The New York Post reported weekday circulation of 512,067 for the six months ended in September. It was 501,501 a year ago. Print copies were off 11 percent to 441,201. Sunday sales were 379,673 and 339,115, respectively. Print copies represented 306,536, down 8 percent year from 2010.