Gray Lady Stalls, Globe Takes a Seat

NEW YORK Many in the industry are dreading the upcoming
Fas-Fax report, and early numbers are slowly starting to emerge. Today
came word that The Boston Globe is expecting steep overall circulation
declines for the six-month period ending March 2005 while The New York
Times and the McClatchy chain experienced slight gains.

During an earnings call with analysts Thursday morning, executives at The
New York Times Co. said that the Globe’s daily circ declined by 17,000
copies, or 3.7%, and Sunday decreased by 15,000 copies, or 2.1%.

The New York Times reported daily circ increased by 2,500 copies, or .2%.
Sunday circ grew 3,500 copies, also .2%. The Times’ daily circulation dropped
2% within New York, though national circulation is up 2%. Sunday circ sank
5% in the New York area while it increased roughly 5% nationally.

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