WSJ to overtake USA Today in circulation

Editor & Publisher reports that when the Audit Bureau of Circulations issues its numbers Oct. 26, USA Today will show a 17 percent drop in weekday circulation for the six months ending in September. That would be a decline of about 390,000 copies to 1.88 million for the Gannett Co. publication that bills itself as "The Nation's Newspaper -- No. 1 in the USA."

The Journal reported Saturday it is ready to claim the No. 1 spot. Weekday circulation of the business newspaper, owned by News Corp., was about 2 million.

USA Today, a reading staple among U.S. travelers, is seeing its circulation atrophy as the recession put a major crimp on hotel stays. The newspaper's publisher and president, David Hunke, said news of the circulation drop was anticipated.

"We have known this," Hunke told Editor & Publisher. "We have been aware the statement coming out is the toughest one we have ever faced."
He said he expects circulation to rebound with the economy.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.