This continues a trend over the last four reporting periods that has seen Individually Paid Sub scri ptions grow 12%. This is the outcome of the Journal’s strategy to maintain the highest quality circulation by focusing on growing home delivery subscribers while reducing other paid circulation. The Journal has a high number of Individually Paid Circulation with more than 50% more—or 500,000 more—than the next highest newspaper total as reported by ABC.
The Wall Street Journal Online has also steadily grown its subscriber base, increasing paid subscribers 11% year-over-year in 2008, rising to 1,035,085 subscribers from 931,000. The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, which comprises WSJ.com, MarketWatch.com, Barron’s.com and AllThingsD.com also generated significant year-over-year growth in terms of both visitors and page views. Visitors to the WSJDN increased 70% while page views increased 32%.
“Over the last few years when other publications have seen declining circulation, the Journal franchise has gone from strength to strength showing growth in circulation and improving quality,” said Paul Bascobert, chief marketing officer of The Wall Street Journal. “With the recent expansion to both the print and online editions of the Journal we expect to build on this positive pattern of growth with new opportunities to serve our core audience while engaging new readers.”
During the six months ending March 31, 2008, as reported in the ABC March 2008 FAS-FAX, total average paid circulation for the Journal grew to 2,069,463 from 2,062,312.
The Wall Street Journal continues to defy industry trends, growing Individually Paid Sub scri ptions by 1.6% to 1,351,396 and overall circulation by 0.3% to 2,069,463.
