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Report Details Dropping Circulation for Newspapers

By David Folkenflik
Published May 3, 2005 at 12:00 AM EDT

New figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) -- the equivalent of the Nielsen ratings for newspapers -- show that daily newspapers surveyed lost nearly 2 percent of their paid circulation compared to a year ago.

Sunday editions lost 2.5 percent: In the figures below from the ABC report, for example, only the New York Times and New York Daily News showed an increase.

Recent circulation inflation scandals at Newsday and the Dallas Morning News have made newspapers far more careful about discounts and other promotions used to lure readers. In addition, online readership is not currently counted in the circulation figures, which are used to determine crucial advertising rates.

Total Paid Circulation for Top American Newspapers (Sunday Edition)**

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

*<i>USA Today</i> figure is for Friday edition; <i>Wall Street Journal</i> figure is for the weekday edition. ** <i>Newsday</i> and the <i>Dallas Morning News</i> were among the top 20 papers last year, but have been excluded due to "ABC Board censure."
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*USA Today figure is for Friday edition; Wall Street Journal figure is for the weekday edition. ** Newsday and the Dallas Morning News were among the top 20 papers last year, but have been excluded due to "ABC Board censure."
David Folkenflik
David Folkenflik was described by Geraldo Rivera of Fox News as "a really weak-kneed, backstabbing, sweaty-palmed reporter." Others have been kinder. The Columbia Journalism Review, for example, once gave him a "laurel" for reporting that immediately led the U.S. military to institute safety measures for journalists in Baghdad.
See stories by David Folkenflik

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public