Local newspaper sales continue to slide

The importance of independent news web sites like MyNewtown and MyWelshpool has never been clearer following the recent publication of industry sales figures.

The newspaper industry is experiencing a startling collective slump in sales across the UK, with local titles heavily impacted, according to ABC data which is the trusted source for media buyers, advertisers and media owners.

In the year up to December 2022, The County Times sold just 6,715 copies on average a week, well down from its dizzy heights of over 21,000+ sales at the turn of the Millennium, while its sister Newsquest title, the Border Counties Advertiser registered just 2,850 weekly sales.

Further south, the Tindle-owned Brecon & Radnor is selling 3,666 newspapers a week while the fellow Tindle-owned Cambrian News to the west of the county sells 7,790 copies. These figures though are only up to December 2021, with 2022 not yet published for Tindle titles.

The only daily local paper that covers our area, The Shropshire Star, sells 11,141 copies.

“These figures are quite an eye opener and show the continuing trend towards quality online local news, something we have been proud to deliver since 2010 across the Welshpool and Newtown areas without charging the reader a single penny,” said David Williams, Co-founder of MyTown Media Ltd.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support from our local advertisers whose investment in us ensures we can continue to service our communities with a first-class service.

“We hope to see this extend to working with more bodies like Powys County Council and Welsh Government to ensure that their public money is being better spent on more impactful and value-for-money advertising avenues. This will, in turn, help the local news industry to survive and thrive.”

For the full ABC figures, click here.