Consistent Growth For Fairfax Media Publications

Thursday 12th May 2006 - Midnight

CONSISTENT GROWTH FOR FAIRFAX MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
IN LATEST AUDIT

Fairfax Media publications have again shown a strong performance with consistently high circulation, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) results.

Fairfax Media’s metropolitan newspapers throughout the country maintained solid circulation figures and the full collection of Fairfax’s Auckland community newspapers had healthy growth.

The Press, named Newspaper of the Year and Best Newspaper over 25,000 circulation at the Qantas Media Awards last week, registered its highest circulation figure since March 2002, of 92,465. The Dominion Post experienced a growth in circulation for the third consecutive audit report, now at 98,251.

Joan Withers, CEO of Fairfax Media says the results reflect the high journalistic capabilities across the titles and the consistent quality of publications within the group.

“The Sunday Star-Times remains New Zealand’s biggest selling national newspaper with a circulation of 200,991 and we’re also experiencing good growth in the daily newspapers in the regions.”

“It is pleasing to see Fairfax Media’s Auckland community newspapers showing a total circulation increase of 14,660. This highlights Fairfax’s strength in the Auckland market, which has been further enhanced through the purchase of The Rodney Times. This particular title has grown by 5.0 percent year-on-year,” says Withers.

APN’s Herald on Sunday dropped a considerable 8.1 percent to 93,193, the equivalent of an 8,162 loss in sales. APN’s The New Zealand Herald also experienced a loss in circulation of 4,240 (down 2.1 percent).

Circulation of the Sunday Star-Times, which was named the Best Weekly Newspaper at the recent Qantas Media Awards is marginally down 1.3 percent year-on-year.

Waikato Times, at 41,083, has seen an increase of 0.2 percent year-on-year and The Southland Times posted its best ABC results since March 2003, of 29,571

ENDS

Source: ABC Audited Circulation, 6 months to 31 March 2006 (>25,000)
ABC Audited Circulation, 12 months to 31 March 2006 (<25,000)
Qantas Media Awards 2006
- Best New Zealand Newspaper (The Press)
- Best Daily Newspaper over 25,000 (The Press)
- Best Newspaper Investigation (The Press)
- Best Weekly Newspaper (The Sunday Star Times)

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