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ABCs: UK national newspapers continue to suffer circulation decline

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

June 14, 2018 | 2 min read

All of the UK’s leading newspapers suffered a third consecutive month of print circulation decline showing that the medium remains under threat if it fails to greet new audiences.

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Figures by auditor ABC found that The Sun, the highest circulated UK newspaper with a cover price, was down 6.49% year on year to 1.47m in May.

The Daily Mail, which recently saw its longtime editor Paul Dacre announce his impending departure, was also down by 11.49% to 1.27m. When Remain-backing Geordie Greig takes up the editorship in September, it will hope for a reversal in these fortunes, likely by bringing the newspaper presence closer to the MailOnline. Even The Guardian, a few months into its print rebrand, was down by 8.09%.

Free newspapers The Metro (owned by the Daily Mail Group) and the Evening Standard also noted slight declines in distribution, both less than 1%.

So what can be done to save these newspapers?

Earlier today, The Times unveiled how it is using Alexa to help drive its brand and subscriptions with the launch of a new skill just in time for the World Cup. Meanwhile across the Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal is experimenting with a machine-learning paywall that is rationing article access and delivering subscription prompts to readers it deems ready to part with some cash.

Journalism Abc Media

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