U.S. newspaper circulation holds steady as readers shift to digital

Newspaper circulation in the United States is staying the same, as readers shift from print to digital and even begin paying for online content, the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations numbers show.

Circulation was about the same in the six months ending Sept. 30 as is was in the same period in 2011. However, paid digital increased to 15.3 percent of the total, compared to 9.8 percent in the period last year.

More than 300 papers now charge for their digital content, including 70 of Gannett’s 80 community titles and McClatchy’s 30 launching paywalls as well, Poynter noted. Many publishers, including The New York Times, are also increasing print subscription rates, taking losses in print numbers in order to get equal or greater revenue.

Branded editions, which are products owned by newspapers, “such as commuter, community, alternative-language or Sunday-Select type newspapers, make up 5.6 percent of newspapers’ total average circulation, up from 4.2 percent in September 2011,” according to ABC.

Digital circulation includes tablet or smartphone apps, PDF replicas, metered or restricted-access websites or e-reader editions, ABC explained. 

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