Rainsville Weekly Post Merges into Fort Payne Times Journal

The Rainsville Weekly Post merged into the daily Fort Payne Times-Journal on February 25th, 2010.  The former subscribers of the Weekly Post will receive the Saturday edition of the Times-Journal until their current subscription expires.  They can then decide if they want the daily paper or not.

Niles Daily Star and Dowagiac Daily News Switch to Mail Distribution

Leader Publications announced today that effective May 3rd, 2010, the Niles Daily Star and Dowagiac Daily News will switch from carrier delivery to mail delivery.  The in-home date will not change for either vendor.  In the event that the U.S.P.S. would stop Saturday delivery, the Niles Daily Star Saturday distribution would revert back to carrier delivery.

Appleton Post-Crescent to stop Post-Crescent East edition

The Appleton Post-Crescent announced it will cease publishing its weekly Post-Crescent East edition on Friday, May 28th, 2010.  The content of the weekly edition will be moved into the daily edition of the Post-Crescent.

Honolulu Star Bulletin to Acquire Honolulu Advertiser

The Justice Department has given Honolulu Star Bulletin owner David Black permission to purchase the Honolulu Advertiser from Gannett Company.  Black intends to consolidate the two publications, and create a new daily called the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.  The sale is expected to be completed on Sunday, May 2nd.  A timeline for the consolidation of the two publications has yet to be announced.

ABC's Circulation Biggest Gainers

The Naples Daily News (FL) had a 21.8% increase in circulation from 2009 to 2010, per the latest ABC Fas-Fax report, leading all publications with a 50,000 or more circulation base.  The Daily News newly reported weekday circulation is 77,565.

The Schenectady Gazette (NY) had a 21.6% increase in circulation from 2009 to 2010, with a new reported weekday circulation of 55,318.

The Macomb Daily (MI) increased 13.4% from 2009 to 2010, with a new reported weekday circulation of 54,240.

The Toledo Blade (OH) had the largest increase for a paper with 100,000 circulation, increasing to 117,704, or a 6.3% increase.

The Bend Bulletin (OR) led all newspapers with a 34.3% increase, with a newly reported weekday circulation of 43,895.

Bend Bulletin Increases Circulation 34%

The Bend Bulletin reported a 34.3% increase on weekday circulation from one year ago, along with a 32.5% increase on Sunday distribution, per the latest ABC FAS-FAX report. 

The increase is due to an aggressive marketing campaign coupled with strong promotions to the paid e-edition of the newspaper, per Keith Foutz, corporate circulation and operations director.  ABC is also allowing the Bend Bulletin to count those paid newspaper subscribers who also get the the paid e-edition, something that was not permitted before.

Washington Blade Reopens for Business

The Washington Blade, a gay and lesbian publication covering the Washington D.C. area, will resume publishing on Friday April 30th, 2010, under new ownership. The publication was previously owned by Windows Media and was closed down suddenly in November 2009.

The Blade is anticipating distribution of 25,000 copies.