FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Boston, September 26, 2006 – Readership of the Boston Phoenix reached an all-time 40 year high, growing 26 percent over the past 6 months to nearly half a million readers, according to the most recent survey of Media Audit. Media Audit — an independent, multi-media, qualitative audience survey widely used by the advertising and publishing industries — places Phoenix readership cume at 490,400. To arrive at its results, Media Audit conducts extensive surveys based on 450 questions about readership habits and consumer preferences.
“It’s worth noting that one year after our dramatic redesign our readers have responded with such enthusiasm — hitting levels the paper has never seen in it’s 40 year history” says Peter Kadzis, Executive Editor.
Brad Mindich, Executive Vice President added: “This is really exciting for all of us, especially because this growth has occurred during a time of decline in the traditional newspaper market. I am proud because everyone at the Phoenix has worked very hard to ensure we continue to be creative and that we focus on what we do better than anyone. These results are proof of this tireless effort and commitment. When we combine these results with the 30%+ growth in our page views at thephoenix.com, it’s clear that our readers — and advertisers — are using our media more than ever which is great for everyone.”
The readership numbers also reinforce the Phoenix’s place as one of the nation’s most read alternative weeklies. As the national trend in the past five years is a decline in overall newspaper readership, an increase of 26% in a six-month period symbolizes the Phoenix’s ability to not only provide editorial content that is in-line with what their readers are looking for, but also to market and distribute efficiently and successfully in the Boston market.
The Boston Phoenix, founded in 1966, is published each Thursday and distributed free in more than 1600 sidewalk and store locations. The Boston Phoenix is part of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which includes editions of the Phoenix in Boston, Providence and Portland, ME, as well as FNX Radio Network, Mass Web Printing, Stuff@Night, People2People Group, g8wave mobile media and www.ThePhoenix.com
Contact:
Brian Appel
The Boston Phoenix
126 Brookline Ave
Boston MA 02215
617-450-8765
bappel@phx.com
