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Pro-independence newspaper sees circulation double

A regional editor has spoken of his pride after his paper’s decision to back Scottish independence saw its circulation more than double.

The Newsquest-owned Sunday Herald was the only newspaper in Scotland to back a Yes vote in last week’s refrerendum.

Now it has revealed that its internal figures showed a circulation of 49,921 for its more recent edition – a year-on-year increase of 111pc.

The most recent Audit Bureau of Circulation figures showed the paper achieved a 1pc year-on-year circulation increase in the first six months of 2014.

Sunday Herald editor Richard Walker said:  “We’re proud to have given a voice to the 45pc of the voters who supported independence and incredibly grateful to those who reciprocated that support.

“Our sales have gone up pretty steadily since we declared our support in May for a Yes vote in the referendum but the rate of the increase accelerated in the last month or so before the vote.

“To be honest we thought we had reached a peak in the issue immediately before the referendum, when we put on more than 8,000 week on week.

“But our post-referendum issue put on another 8,000, which speaks volumes about the mood in the Yes movement after the vote.

“I think the figures show the appetite for passionate, campaigning journalism which is engaged with the concerns of readers.

“It’s also testament to the overwhelming support the yes movement is prepared to give to voices within the media willing to challenge the pro-Union stance of most of the Scottish and London-based media.

The Glasgow-based paper gave its backing to a Yes vote on May 4 in a leader which told readers: “We assert a claim to a better, more decent, more just future in which a country’s governments will be ruled always by the decisions of its citizens”.

Glasgow was one of four local authority areas in Scotland to back independence in the referendum.

4 comments

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  • September 25, 2014 at 9:35 am
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    Aye, according to their internal figures. Which doubtless includes bulks and giveaways. Always a huge pile of free SH at the airport.

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  • September 25, 2014 at 10:07 am
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    Great result Richard. The gamble paid off. Glasgow Airport actually sold out by 1pm on the Sunday prior to Ref.

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  • September 25, 2014 at 10:51 am
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    Looking forward to seeing the corresponding figures for the papers’ rivals!

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  • September 25, 2014 at 12:07 pm
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    Dead cat bounce. And next week’s will plummet again …

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