Newspapers down 2%; T&G down 11%

Nationally:

For the six months ended March 31, average daily paid circulation fell 5.2 percent in Massachusetts from the same period a year earlier, and 2.1 percent nationally, according to data reported yesterday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, an independent monitor of newspaper circulation.

Holy cow:

At the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, daily circulation fell 11.6 percent, to 84,754, based on a six-day average.

Update (April 2, 2009): Just now became aware of this “clarification” published in the T&G after these numbers were released: A major portion of the Telegram & Gazette’s circulation decline for the six month period ending March 31 was attributable to switching the company’s website from a paid subscription to a free site and to a reduction in the “other” circulation categories outside of traditional home delivery and single copy sales. Because of a reporting error, a story published Sunday in the Telegram & Gazette did not completely identify those reasons for the decline. They say this accounts for about half their losses, which still means they are doing terribly, but closer to average for Massachusetts. In subsequent reports they consistently did worst than the national average, as it turned out.

Telegram & Gazette webcam, with pigeon in foreground

Speaking of news gathering, Larry Cirignano was back at the Worcester courthouse this morning with his lawyer. I ran into an old friend on Main Street, and got to the courthouse just as reporter Ethan Jacobs, who’s been following the case closely, was emerging. So no news from me, but Ethan should be posting something at Bay Windows soon.