Thank you, New York!
The New York Post made newspaper history yesterday, leapfrogging the Daily News and The Washington Post to become the fifth-largest paper in the country – and it’s all thanks to you.
The Post reported a circulation jump of 5.1 percent, to a whopping 704,011 copies a day Monday to Friday for the six months ended Sept. 30. That’s up 34,348 copies from a year ago – and an astounding 274,369 copies a day from 10 years ago.
“This is a great and historic day for The Post,” said Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corp., which owns The Post.
“We have created a newspaper with a unique voice that reflects the heart and soul of New York, and today’s publisher’s statement, which for the first time places us ahead of the Daily News and in the top five newspapers in the country, is a testament to the vitality of the paper and the cherished role it plays in the life of this city.”
The new circulation figures, reported in a publisher’s statement and subject to audit, prove what savvy New Yorkers have known for years – the Daily News is yesterday’s news.
The News’ circulation has steadily declined from the nearly 1.3 million copies it sold daily in 1986 – about twice the circulation of The Post at the time – to only 693,382 reported yesterday.
“This is a joyous occasion for the paper and its readers,” Post Editor-in-Chief Col Allan said, adding that the secret of the paper’s success was simple: Give the people what they want.
“The first question we ask every morning is: What do our readers – our bosses – want to see in tomorrow’s paper?” he said. “And then we get it for them – the best sports in town, great gossip and features, hard-hitting news, and opinion that shapes the debate.”
Post readers – the famous, the infamous and the just plain Joes – were quick to offer up their congratulations on the stunning circulation breakthrough.
“To a paper that is as filthy as my mind – congratulations!” said Madonna, who had just landed in the Big Apple with her newly expanded family.
“Congratulations!” echoed Yoko Ono.
Author Dominick Dunne, chronicler of the rich and the scandalous, said he was genuinely surprised to hear The Post had beaten the News.
“I thought it was already in first place,” he said. “It’s been a front-runner for me for a long time. I read all the papers every morning, but I always start my day with The Post. It excites me.”
Our loyal and ever-growing army of readers is the reason The Post has been able to keep our circulation going north while others are going south. The only papers bigger than us now are USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
And they’d better watch out, because The Post is gunning for them now.
“We’re not done yet,” said Allan. “This is the most exciting and vibrant newspaper in the country, and our readers know it – that’s why they keep spreading the word and we keep getting bigger.”
Even the targets of the occasional Post barb – who know we love them deep down – couldn’t help but congratulate us on the big news.
“Congratulations on a job well done – 365 days of valuable information! We love the New York Post,” said Lizzie Grubman.
“What would New York be without Page Six?” said Alec Baldwin.
And it wasn’t just celebrities who were celebrating The Post’s success yesterday – it was our readers, the people who make us the best paper in the city.
“The Post keeps me updated,” said Nancy Beresford, 18, of The Bronx. “There’s a lot more info than in other papers. I understand everything that’s going on.”
Dennis Nobrega, a security guard at Bryant Park, said he loved the daily round-up of cops and robbers. “I like the Blotter. It keeps me informed about neighborhood crime,” the Brooklynite said.
In yesterday’s figures reported to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, most newspapers saw big drops – with the Los Angeles Times falling 8 percent, the Miami Herald down 8.8 percent, and The New York Times down 3.5 percent.
Former Daily News Editor-in-Chief Ed Kosner said he and the rest of the brass at the city’s second-fiddle newspaper knew the writing was on the wall a few years ago – he even forecast The Post overtaking the News in his memoirs.
“In my book, I predicted this would happen right about now,” he said yesterday.
Post fans said the paper is simply a “must-read” for anyone who lives in the city.
“It’s alive. The paper is terrific,” said former Mayor Ed Koch. “I start reading newspapers at 5 in the morning every day, and reading The Post is like getting that fresh, first wonderful cup of coffee. That’s what it’s like reading the New York Post!”
Joan Rivers said she, too, is a longtime Post fan. “I’ve been reading The Post since it was on papyrus,” she quipped. “I love gossip.”
Throughout the day, word of The Post’s circulation landmark was flashed to passers-by in Times Square through the giant News Astrovision by Panasonic screen.
And Dick Wolf, the creator and producer of the “Law & Order” empire, called in from Canada to get in his two cents: “I read The Post first. Where else would I get my stories?”
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Total paid circulation (chart: Sept. ’00 – Sept. ’06)
New York Post: 704,011
Daily News: 693,382
TOP 10 REASONS THE POST BEAT THE NEWS
10. We know where the headless bodies are buried.
9. Andrea Peyser is the scourge of New York. Who’s afraid of Lenore Skenazy?
8. The Daily News’ color is so bad, Big Blue looks like Gang Green.
7. Page Six, bitches!
6. Our reality show would never be canceled.
5. We break news – they break promises and don’t pay contest winners.
4. Cindy Adams, Michael Riedel and Spider-Man work for us.
3. We didn’t fire Joe Torre.
2. The Post melts in your mind, not on your hands.
1. The Daily News has actually bored a lot of its readers to death.
Top newspapers by daily circulation
1. USA Today 2,269,509
2. The Wall Street Journal 2,043, 235
3. The New York Times 1,086,798
4. Los Angeles Times 775,766
5. NEW YORK POST 704,011
6. New York Daily News 693,382
7. The Washington Post 656,297
8. Chicago Tribune 576,132
9. Houston Chronicle 508,097
10. Newsday 413,579
Best wishes from Madonna
‘To a paper that is as filthy as my mind. Congratulations!’
We asked New Yorkers, from celebrities to our treasured everyday readers, why The Post is a must for them.
“No one can ruin my day quite like the Post. What would New York be without Page Six?” – ALEC BALDWIN
”The Post always has the wacky stories that you just wouldn’t read anywhere else” – ABBY BERGER
“It’s alive. The paper is terrific … Reading The Post is like getting that fresh, first cup of coffee.” – ED KOCH
“The Post gets right down to it. They pull no punches. That’s the way it should be.” – PHIL CASAMENTO
“I wish I could say I helped you guys, but I’ve been stealing The Post from my neighbor’s door for years.” – JOAN RIVERS
“I look at The Post for the top stories. The coverage of 9/11 was very good.” – VANESSA OQUENDO
“If I didn’t read The Post, how else would I know what’s going on at ‘SNL’?” – LORNE MICHAELS
4-PAGE SOUVENIR PULLOUT PAGES 45, 46, 47 & 48