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Australian Community Newspaper Readership 2016: Roy Morgan

Readership of community newspapers in all mainland capital cities has declined, but many titles are bucking the trend and finding new local readers, the latest Roy Morgan Community Newspaper Readership results for the 24 months to September 2016 show.

Inย Sydney, theย St George & Sutherland Shire Leaderย extended its lead as the most-read community paper, with 220,000 readers per average issue (up 15.8 per cent compared with the period to September 2015). Other titles with growing readership include the Bankstown-Canterburyย Torchย (up 8.2 per cent to 92,000), theย Penrith Pressย (up 21.0 per cent to 75,000),ย Northern District Timesย (up 11.3 per cent to 69,000), and theย Mosman Dailyย (up 5.8 per cent to 55,000).

Two other mastheads continue to reach over 100,000 locals per average editionโ€”across multiple editions each week. The Wednesday and Friday issues of the Central Coastโ€™sย Express Advocateย now average 141,000 readers (down 6.0 per cent), while theย Manly Dailyย finds 128,000 readers on Saturdays (down 5.2 per cent) and 103,000 for its average Tuesday to Friday edition (down 6.4 per cent).

โ€œOur latest readership results show that these free publications reach over six million Australians a week, and provide an unmatched, localised platform for smaller advertisers in the areaโ€”as well as national retailers and banks needing to engage effectively with individual suburban target markets,” said Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan Research.

Inย Melbourne, seven of News Corpโ€™s Leader publications ceased publication in Juneโ€”but was it perhaps premature for some? Before it closed, theย Melton Leaderย was Melbourneโ€˜s fastest growing community title (up 47.8 per cent to 34,000).ย Leaderย editions in Wyndham and Bayside were also gaining readers on the way to the finish lineโ€”although less than their direct local competitors, theย Brimbank & Northwest Star Weeklyย (up 33.3 per cent to 36,000) andย Wyndham Star Weeklyย (up 19.0 per cent to 50,000) from Starย News Group and Metro Media Publishing.

Among the remainingย Leaderย titles, growth was strongest for Maribyrnong (up 20.0 per cent to 24,000), Hume (up 6.1 per cent to 52,000), Bayside (up 5.6 per cent to 76,000), Maroondah (up 4.7 per cent to 45,000), Whittlesea (up 3.2 per cent to 65,000) and Moonee Valley (up 2.8 per cent to 36,000).

Inย Brisbane, theย South-West News, including its specially-badgedย Springfield Newsย edition, grew 12.5 per cent to 54,000 readers per average weekly issue. The totalย Pine Rivers Pressย includingย North Lakes Timesย editions also gained readers (up 8.1 per cent to 40,000), as did theย Noosa Newsย (up 5.9 per cent to 36,000) andย Ipswich Advertiserย (up 5.8 per cent to 55,000).

Just dipping below 100,000,ย Brisbane Newsย remains the most-read Community publication in the area (down 7.5 per cent to 99,000) ahead ofย Albert & Logan Newsย (down 6.7 per cent to 83,000) and theย Southern Starย (down 9.2 per cent to 79,000).

Inย Perth, the stand-out performer over the past year is theย Hills/Avon Valley Gazetteย (up 13.3 per cent to 51,000), with only three other titles making gains: theย Perth Voiceย (up 5.0 per cent to 42,000), theย Echoย andย Sound Telegraphย (both up 4.9 per cent to 43,000).

Inย Adelaide, the combined reach of the many Messengers declined only 1.7 pe cent overall, making it the best performing city for Community newspaper readership.ย  Theย City Northย Messengersย rose 14.7% to 39,000, ahead of theย Northern Messengerย (up 10.0 percent to 88,000) andย East Torrens Messengerย (up 6.9 percent to 31,000), largely offsetting the falls across other titles.

 


To view the complete list of Australian Community Newspaper Readership results, click here.

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