Austin Hunter can certainly give himself a pat on the back if the latest ABC figures are anything to go by. From languishing in the doldrums less than two years ago, the News Letter has put on growth of 1.9%. Ed Curran at the Belfast Telegraph 1.8% growth overall and 2.2% Monday to Friday. Despite the campaign of some Loyalist paramilitaries, the Sunday World put on a whopping 7.5% to their NI readership figures, whilst remaining flat in the Republic.The Sunday Tribune appears to be the biggest loser, with an 18% drop in island sales over the year, although that slowed dramatically to 11% in the last six months.
I’ve not yet been able to trace the figures for the controversial race for readers between Daily Ireland and the Irish News.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty