The Media in Figures: Scots regional newspaper circulations (part three)

THE Irvine Times newspaper has seen its sales increase by 3.1 per cent, year-on-year, according to official circulation statistics.

Says the Audit Bureau of Circulation – in its twice-yearly review of regional newspapers – the paper’s average sale during last year was 2,677, compared to the average for for 2012, 2,597.

The increase provides a bright spot amid across-the-board declines.

Other Scots local newspaper figures from ABC, which were published on Wednesday, include:

* Helensburgh Advertiser – average for 2013: 4,779, down 0.9 per cent on the average for 2012;

* Highland News – average for 2013: 5,932, down 11.4 per cent on the average for 2012;

* Inverness Courier (Fri) – 11,473, down 11.6 per cent;

* Inverness Courier (Tues) – 8,212, down 8.4 per cent;

* Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle – 5,952, down 15.5 per cent;

* Irvine Times – 2,677, up 3.1 per cent;

* John O’Groat Journal – 6,775, down 6.9 per cent;

* Kilmarnock Standard (Ayrshire Weekly News and Irvine Valley News) – 11,729, down 9.3 per cent;

* Kirkintilloch Herald – 8,010, down 10.9 per cent;

* Lanark & Carluke Gazette – 8,139, down 7.8 per cent;

* Largs & Millport Weekly News – 4,348, down 4.2 per cent;

* Lennox Herald – 7,990, down 6.8 per cent;

* Linlithgow Journal & Gazette – 5,975, down 13.1 per cent;

* Lochaber News – 2,642, down 4.7 per cent;

* Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker – 9,122, down 13 per cent;

* North Star – 3,426, down 12.7 per cent;

* Northern Scot – 13,207, down 7.2 per cent;

* Northern Times – 3,851, down 8.6 per cent;

* Oban Times – 13,549, down 3.9 per cent;

* Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette – 5,016, down 4.5 per cent;

* Paisley People (free) – 4,506, down 11.2 per cent;

* Peeblesshire News – 4,157, down 3.5 per cent;

* Perthshire Advertiser (Fri) – 9,411, down 12.1 per cent;

* Perthshire Advertiser (Tues) – 4,677, down 14.6 per cent;

* Ross-shire Journal – 6,844, down 9.1 per cent;

* Rutherglen Reformer – 2,837, down 8.3 per cent;

* Southern Reporter – 12,033, down 7.9 per cent;

* Stirling News (incorporating Alloa and Hillfoots Weekender)(free) – 15,901, up 1.9 per cent;

* Stirling Observer (Fri) – 2,550, down 9.5 per cent;

* Stirling Observer (Wed) – 6,190, down 7.4 per cent;

* Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser – 8,961, down 6.2 per cent;

* Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press – 6,699, down 4.7 per cent;

* Strathearn Herald – 1,606, down 8.1 per cent;

* Strathspey & Badenoch Herald – 3,959, down 9.4 per cent;

* West Lothian Courier – 9,717, down 11.9 per cent; and

* Wishaw Press – 5,651, down 9.8 per cent.

Source: Audit Bureau of Circulation, February 26 2014.