Circ Figures Dip 1% in State
An analysis of circulation figures for all MPA member papers indicates figures dipped a modest 1 percent in 2006 versus last year. The numbers were derived from Statements of Ownership and Circulation filed each September with USPS and copies of which are submitted to MPA each October.
Circulation for the state’s 23 daily newspapers dropped to 365,058 from 370,038. That represents a much slimmer decline than 2005 over 2004, when figures dipped a precipitous 15,000.
For weekly papers, the decline was ever-so-slight. Numbers dropped from 295,035 to 294,698. The figures were impacted by the closure of the weekly West Point News, whose 2005 USPS statement indicated a circulation of 1,515.
Dailies posting increases year over year included Brookhaven, Columbus, Corinth, Laurel, Oxford, Picayune and Tupelo. Circulation figures for all state newspapers will be included in the 2007 Newspaper Directory available from MPA early next year.
For comparison purposes, the DeSoto Times Today was moved from the daily column to weekly, after it adopted a thrice-weekly cycle earlier this year. Its historical numbers were moved accordingly so it didn’t skew the two categories.