U.S. newspaper circulation continues to decline

The nation’s top newspapers experienced a marked decline in circulation, according to a report published by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, as readers turn to online sources to get their news.

From April to September of 2009, “nearly 400 daily papers that reported sales slid 10.6%” in average weekday circulation. The shift represents a continued decline from 7.1% reported in the prior six months.

Of the top 25 U.S. newspapers audited, the Wall Street Journal was the only one to experience positive growth at 0.6 percent. Mainstay papers such as USA Today (-17.2%), Los Angeles Times (-11.1%) and Arizona Republic (-12.3), all suffered losses.

A recent report by The Journalism School at Columbia University noted that the news business “continues to confront fundamental economic challenges.”

Many local news organizations have sacrificed public issue reporting for an emphasis on generating ad revenue, thereby putting in jeopardy the overall profitability of media products.

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