A handful of Scots local and regional newspapers – some of them free – have bucked the trend of falling circulation among Scots newspaper titles, according to latest figures.
Sales the Audit Bureau of Circulation, among the paid-for titles, the East Lothian Courier, the Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter, The Orcadian and the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser were the paid-for titles to enjoy a year-on-year increase in their circulation – between the end of December 2010 and end of December last year.
The free titles to also enjoy a year-on-year increase in their circulation were the Dumfries Courier, the Fife Leader, the Northern Scot Mid Week Extra, the Paisley People and the Stiring News incorporating the Alloa and Hillfoots Weekender.
Earlier today, allmediascotland.com reported the circulation figures for Scots daily and evening 'regional' titles, including the Press and Journal, the Evening Times and Dundee's Courier newspaper.
The East Lothian Courier's average circulation of 12,526 represented an increase of 1.6 per cent while The Orcadian's 9,488 represents an increase of 2.3 per cent. The Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter's 3,745 represents an increase of 0.8 per cent.
And the 7,938 for Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser was an impressive 8.8 per cent.
Kevin McRoberts, editor of the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser, told allmediascotland.com: “The increase in circulation is encouraging and is to be welcomed in what are tough times for the industry. The increase has been, in part, assisted by the two-month absence of our previous rival, the Wee County News. However, we have continued to see improved circulation since its relaunch in October.
“In the past year, we've doubled the number of pages in the Alloa Advertiser to provide our readers with greater coverage of local news and sport. The dedicated and hard working editorial team are continuing to explore opportunities to develop and improve our product as we look to maintain and continue to grow our circulation in the coming months.”
Added Robbie Scott, editor of the East Lothian Courier, which, like the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser, is published by Forth Weekly Press: “We're fortunate to live and work in one of Scotland's most attractive areas so it's pleasing if our efforts to provide a newspaper worthy of such a fantastic county are paying off.
“Residents here and elsewhere have great affection for their local papers and want the local press to succeed and flourish.
“It can often be hard to meet their expectations but we as an industry must move heaven and earth to continue to play a lead role in our communities and, whether online or in print, bring them the unique content they demand and deserve.”
Martin Little, editorial manager of Forth Weekly Press, added: “The recent figures for both the East Lothian Courier and Alloa Advertiser are encouraging. The teams in both Haddington and Alloa have worked exceptionally hard over the past six months – and have shown what can be achieved despite the current financial climate.
“We still see potential for growth in our publications and are investing in our talented news teams in order to realise this.”
And The Orcadian's editor, Sigurd Towrie, also told allmediascotland.com: “Needless to say, we at The Orcadian are delighted to be bucking the trend and seeing another increase in our circulation figures. As all in the industry know well, newspapers are going through a rough patch, with competition from the internet and falling advertising revenues. But, fortunately, we have both an extremely loyal readership and customer bases and it's heartening to see that our efforts are paying off.
“I think now, more than ever, the role of a local newspaper is to cover all aspects of the community it serves – from breaking hard news to local events and sport. Allowing us to do that, I'm fortunate to have a small, but extremely dedicated team in the newsroom, who work above and beyond the call of duty each week. Their efforts are complemented by a network of regular correspondents and contacts across the county, without whom we would not be able to provide the service we do.”
The local/regional titles figures are issues by the ABC twice a year.
The full Scots list reads (average circulation and year-on-year rise or fall):
Aberdeen Citizen (free): 52,893, -21.2 per cent
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser: 12,858, -8.1 per cent
Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser: 7,938, 8.8 per cent
Annandale Herald: 2,801, -2.5 per cent
Annandale Observer: 5,877, -1.3 per cent
The Arbroath Herald (inc Broughty Ferry, Carnoustie, Monifieth Guide & Gazette): 8,573, -5.5 per cent
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald: 11,040, -6.0 per cent
Arran Banner: 3,093, -3.6 per cent
Ayr Advertiser: 3,409, -2.3 per cent
Ayrshire Post: 21,427, -8.8 per cent
Banffshire Journal: 4,643, -1.2 per cent
Berwickshire News & East Lothian Herald: 4,790, -8.6 per cent
Blairgowrie Advertiser: 2,171, -3.0 per cent
Border Telegraph: 3,502, -5.1 per cent
Brechin Advertiser: 2,513, -7.7 per cent
The Buchan Observer: 5,821, -8.1 per cent
The Buteman: 2,761, -3.2 per cent
Caithness Courier: 5,964, -4.6 per cent
Campbeltown Courier & Argyllshire Advertiser: 6,473, -3.2 per cent
Carrick Gazette: 2,102, -10.6 per cent
Central Fife Times & Advertiser: 5,340, -6.3 per cent
Clydebank Post: 9,932, -0.7 per cent
Courier & Advertiser (Dundee): 59,754, -5.2 per cent
Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle: 7,791, -13.6 per cent
Cumnock Chronicle: 6,213, -3.3 per cent
Deeside Piper: 5,169, -5.3 per cent
Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter: 3,745, 0.8 per cent
Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Fri): 13,042, -8.2 per cent
Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Wed): 7,639, -10.3 per cent
Dumfries Courier (free): 22,341, 0.1 per cent
Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser: 15,572, -2.9 per cent
East Fife Mail: 9,279, -8.2 per cent
East Kilbride News: 9,053, -8.4 per cent
East Lothian Courier: 12,526, 1.6 per cent
East Lothian News: 3,487, -5.5 per cent
Edinburgh Evening News: 37,250, -11.2 per cent
The Ellon Times and Inverurie Herald: 2,928, -8.6 per cent
Evening Times (Glasgow): 49,096, -9.5 per cent
Evening Express (Aberdeen): 44,038, -10.6 per cent
Evening Telegraph (Dundee): 22,904, -1.8 per cent
The Extra, Glasgow South & Eastwood (free): 29,988, -0.3 per cent
Falkirk & Grangemouth Advertiser (free): 34,352, -24.7 per cent
Falkirk Herald: 22,471, -6.6 per cent
Fife & Kinross Extra (free): 26,101, -3.2 per cent
Fife Free Press: 13,955, -0.4 per cent
Fife Herald News & St Andrews Citizen: 10,986, -8.4 per cent
Fife Leader (free): 43,515, 1.6 per cent
Forfar Dispatch: 4,350, -7.9 per cent
Forres Gazette: 3,016, -8.7 per cent
The Fraserburgh Herald: 4,462, -8.3 per cent
The Galloway Gazette: 4,473, -8.5 per cent
The Galloway News: 7,401, -5.9 per cent
Glenrothes Gazette: 4,895, -11.1 per cent
Greenock Telegraph: 13,913, -5.5 per cent
Hamilton Advertiser: 17,964, -7.7 per cent
Hawick News and Scottish Border Chronicle: 5,094, -4.2 per cent
Helensburgh Advertiser: 5,295, -2.1 per cent
Herald & Post, West Lothian (free): 31,817, -24.8 per cent
Highland News: 7,158, -7.7 per cent
Inverness Courier (Fri): 13,255, -7.9 per cent
Inverness Courier (Tue): 9,627, -8.4 per cent
The Inverness Herald (free): 15,178, -0.8 per cent
Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle: 8,192, -7.7 per cent
Irvine Times: 2,797, -1.9 per cent
John O'Groat Journal: 7,523, -4.2 per cent
Kilmarnock Standard: 14,513, -6.9 per cent
Kirkintilloch Herald: 9,750, -0.6 per cent
Lanark & Carluke Gazette: 9,325, -9.7 per cent
Largs & Millport Weekly News: 4,835, -6.6 per cent
Lennox Herald: 9,147, -3.9 per cent
Linlithgowshire Journal & Gazette: 7,137, -7.2 per cent
Lochaber News: 2,877, -6.5 per cent
Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Observer: 4,120, -4.9 per cent
Midlothian Advertiser: 6,065, -5.2 per cent
Milngavie & Bearsden Herald: 5,245, -5.4 per cent
Moffat News: 1,019, -5.4 per cent
Montrose Review: 4,071, -6.3 per cent
Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker: 11,322, -6.4 per cent
North Star: 4,240, -9.7 per cent
Northern Scot: 15,358, -7.6 per cent
Northern Scot Mid Week Extra (free): 21,224, 0.4 per cent
Northern Times: 4,393, -3.6 per cent
Oban Times: 14,768, -4.8 per cent
The Orcadian: 9,488, 2.3 per cent
Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette: 6,937, -9.0 per cent
Paisley Daily Express: 7,137, -7.6 per cent
Paisley People (free): 4,538, 14.9 per cent
Peeblesshire News: 4,563, -4.1 per cent
Perthshire Advertiser (Fri): 12,126, -8.8 per cent
Perthshire Advertiser (Tue): 6,224, -9.2 per cent
Press & Journal (Aberdeen): 67,781, -6.9 per cent
Ross-shire Journal: 8,121, -6.9 per cent
Rutherglen Reformer: 3,415, -5.4 per cent
Southern Reporter: 14,373, -8.0 per cent
Stirling News incorporating Alloa and Hillfoots Weekender (free): 17,389, 0.3 per cent
Stirling Observer (Fri): 3,236, -6.8 per cent
Stirling Observer (Wed): 7,718, -8.5 per cent
Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser: 10,288, -5.5 per cent
Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press: 7,424, -2.3 per cent
Strathearn Herald: 2,111, -4.9 per cent
Strathspey & Badenoch Herald: 4,565, -1.7 per cent
West Highland Free Press: 8,065, -2.0 per cent
West Lothian Courier: 12,375, -11.1 per cent
Wishaw Press: 7,045, -11.1 per cent
