From the Australian Newspaper History Group October 2010 newsletter produced by Rod Kirkpatrick:
Four regional dailies had double-figure percentage declines in circulation for the three or six-month period to 30 June, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. They were: the Standard, Warrnambool, 16.45; the Gold Coast Bulletin, 15.31 per cent; the North West Star, Mount Isa, 12.98; and the Geelong Advertiser, 11.56. And the Townsville Bulletin, down 9.95 per cent, was only a whisker short of a double-figure dip. Three of these papers are big dailies, not based in areas where there is a population slump.
The table below from this same newsletter shows that newspapers on the NSW North Coast continue to lose circulation as they battle to retain relevance for local readers.
Diversity with regard to range and editorial stance is important for regional media - whether it is print or digital, produced by professional journalists or bloggers.
While local newspapers urgently need to break out of parent company moulds which often simply clone the news across their banners and apparently encourage journalists to go for cheap regurgitation of media releases; readers also need to keep purchasing these papers as a way of encouraging regional journalism and protecting their own ability to access all shades of opinion on regional, state and national issues.
Buy a local newspaper today.
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