For August of this year, the Union-Tribune's daily circulation plunged to 266,765 from 283,437 in August of 2007, according to internal numbers given to employees. Sunday circulation declined to 332,342 in August of 2008 from 355,598 a year earlier. In August of 2004, daily circulation was 329,453 and Sunday 422,037. That is a huge fall. Online performance was mixed from 2007 to 2008. David T. Clark of Deutsche Bank says, "The next 18 months may be 'make or break' for the newspapers," stating that all signs point to weak retail sales and lean advertising budgets for the rest of 2008 and much of 2009. Media columnist Jon Fine of Business Week says that "Family owners are throwing up their hands, hanging out For Sale signs on major newspapers amidst the worst selling environment in, perhaps, ever." (Copley put itself up for sale in late July.)
For August of this year, the Union-Tribune's daily circulation plunged to 266,765 from 283,437 in August of 2007, according to internal numbers given to employees. Sunday circulation declined to 332,342 in August of 2008 from 355,598 a year earlier. In August of 2004, daily circulation was 329,453 and Sunday 422,037. That is a huge fall. Online performance was mixed from 2007 to 2008. David T. Clark of Deutsche Bank says, "The next 18 months may be 'make or break' for the newspapers," stating that all signs point to weak retail sales and lean advertising budgets for the rest of 2008 and much of 2009. Media columnist Jon Fine of Business Week says that "Family owners are throwing up their hands, hanging out For Sale signs on major newspapers amidst the worst selling environment in, perhaps, ever." (Copley put itself up for sale in late July.)