Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Gavin O'Reilly, CEO of INM. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
Media

Sales up for only two newspapers from January to June 2011

One of these regional papers is owned by INM, which today revealed a drop of 12.3 per cent in group revenue for the first half of this year.

Updated, 20.59

TWO REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS were the only printed news publications to increase sales in the first six months of 2011.

The Audit Bureau of Circulation released figures which the Press Gazette says show that the Roscommon Herald and the Enniscorthy Guardian have increased their sales by 9.3 per cent (to 8,640) and 5.6 per cent (to 7,277) respectively.

The Roscommon Herald is owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings and the Enniscorthy Guardian is owned by Independent News and Media (INM).

INM reported today that its operating profit had fallen by €2.3m in the first half of 2011. It reported to shareholders that group revenue had fallen 12.3 per cent. Advertising revenues were “subdued”, its figures found, and operating costs are to be “aggresssively managed”, with the company already managing to reduce them by €6.6m.

INM chief Gavin O’Reilly said the results came in “remarkably tough advertising and consumer markets”. The report also said:

As part of the Group’s focus on eliminating loss-making activities, the Irish Daily Star Sunday, in which INM was a 50% shareholder, and the Sunday Tribune, in which INM was a 29.9% shareholder, ceased publication in January and February 2011 respectively.

The tough market conditions have clearly had a similar effect on other titles in Ireland. All other papers (excluding freesheets) dropped circulation from January to June, with the Cork Evening Echo (10.2 per cent) seeing the worst daily drop; the Sunday World (7.6 per cent), Sunday Business Post (3.6 per cent) and Sunday Independent (3.6 per cent) seeing the worst decreases for Sunday titles; and the Leinster Leader experiencing the worst decrease (19.8 per cent) of all publications.

For the full list of circulation change, see PressGazette.co.uk>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
4
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.