Tulsa World numbers drop; Candidate to boycott paper
According to a published statement of ownership, the Tulsa World has lost 5 percent of its paid readers in the last 12 months.
In 2007, the newspaper reported a paid circulation of 131,192 (averaged over the previous 12 months). On Sept. 28, the paper reported that number had dropped to 124,852 - a decline of more than 5 percent and a drop of 6,340. That’s more than 500 lost paid readers each month or almost 17 lost subscribers a day.
According to a report in the Tulsa World, the daily newspaper lost almost 5,000 papers in circulation from October 2005 to October 2006.
Earlier this year, the monopoly paper announced it was consolidating some of its sections to protect its profit margins.
Across the county, large daily papers are generally losing paid circulation while smaller papers are holding their own.
The World recently raised the price of a single copy from 50 cents to 75 cents for Monday through Saturday and from $1.50 to $2 on Sundays.
Analysts and surveys paid for by monopoly dailies say the decline of circulation is due to readers getting more news from the Internet, a younger generation that doesn’t read newspapers like their parents do and a liberal news bias that is out of touch with a more conservative readership base.
Layoffs could be on the horizon. The Tulsa World already closed one of its news departments this year.
The circulation of the Tulsa Beacon, Tulsa’s family newspaper, has been steady in the past three years.
Sally Bell to boycott the Tulsa World
After a series of attacks on her personal integrity, Sally Bell is refusing to grant further interviews to the Tulsa World.
Bell is the Republican nominee for the District 2 seat on the Tulsa County Commission. She is running against Democrat Karen Keith.
In October, the liberal Tulsa World has referred to Bell as a “wingnut,” “dangerous,” “a member of a lunatic rightwing group,” an “extremist” and someone with “exotic, radical, conspiratorial notions.” The paper accused Bell of “backward-looking chaos,” running for “spite” and authoring a “radical anti-tax plan.”
The paper has endorsed Keith, a liberal Democrat who has family ties to MoveOn.org, one of the most far-Left organizations in America.
Bell made her comments on the Chris Medlock Show on KFAQ radio.
“For over five decades, our family has been open and honest through good times and bad with any and every news source,” Bell said. “For the past two weeks, I have come under attack from the Tulsa World. They cannot attack my platform because it appeals to the average voter. Instead, they have to attack me personally. Their comments are malicious and spiteful.
“Due to their actions, the Tulsa World is no longer an unbiased observer of this race. Therefore, I will no longer grant interviews to the Tulsa World nor will I respond to their questions. However, because I believe the voters need to hear from me and know where I stand and because I think it is time for the citizens of Tulsa to turn to alternative media sources, I will grant any and all requests for interviews and comments to the following print outlets - the Tulsa Beacon, Urban Tulsa Weekly, Glenpool Post, Jenks Journal, Oklahoma Eagle, Sand Springs Leader, Tulsa Business Journal, Tulsa County News, the Greater Tulsa Reporter papers and the Daily Oklahoman.
“And as always, I will speak to all TV and radio media.”