LAT spins the circulation numbers

The daily circulation of the printed Los Angeles Times was 572,998 in the latest audited numbers released today. It used to be well over a million, at the paper's peak. The latest Sunday circulation was 905,920, as Mark Lacter posted earlier at LA Biz Observed. The internal memo sent to Times staffers (with incorrect totals, later corrected to what I have here) says the numbers reflect the paper's first increase in Sunday circulation in a September report since 2002.

From: Nagel, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:46 AM
To: AllLosAngelesTimesEmployees
Subject: Circulation Update

Colleagues:

This morning, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) released its bi-yearly report on paid circulation for the six month period ending September 2011. The Times reported a 4.6% decline in total daily circulation and a 0.5% increase in Sunday circulation. Total circulation reported was 605,244 Daily and 948,889 Sunday.

These represent the strongest September daily results in four years, and the strongest September Sunday results in nine years.

Much of our performance was driven by demand for the core print newspaper. Print circulation was down 4.3% daily, and up 0.3% Sunday—including the first September year-over-year increase in Sunday home delivery (+0.5%) since 2002.

Thank you all for your collective efforts in contributing to these results.

Bill Nagel

Poynter notes, by the way, that the ABC's September numbers are calculated in such a different way that the circulation can't be accurately compared to previous years.

Noted: The Times is pretty pleased with its growing online audience, the numbers boosted again in September by a surge in social media clicks.