A daily newspaper has recorded a double table-topping performance in the latest regional press circulation charts.
The Irish News is now the top-selling UK-based daily, the latest ABC figures have confirmed, taking the crown from Aberdeen’s Press & Journal.
The Belfast-based daily also showing the smallest decline in circulation in the first half of this year, a drop of 7.7pc year-on-year when compared with the first half of 2022.
The News recorded an average circulation of 25,010 for January to June 2023, while the Press & Journal’s stood at 24,852.
The News and its owner IntoMedia have credited investment in technology and adding to its 132-strong payroll for its performance.
IntoMedia chief executive Dominic Fitzpatrick, pictured, said: “Reaching this number one position for the first time is symbolic, and underlines the continued investment across the whole of our business.
“It demonstrates how the paper offers authoritative, trustworthy and highly credible journalism, notable by its balance and integrity.
“It is also testament to the work of all our staff, and we’re also hugely grateful for the support of our readers and advertisers.”
Second place in terms of circulation change was Edinburgh daily The Scotsman, which experienced a 9.76pc decrease, while the P&J’s DC Thomson sister daily the Aberdeen Evening Express was third on -11.75pc.
The Manchester Evening News, which has the highest online audience of all regional titles, came bottom of the print table, recording a 58.87pc decrease after ceasing the circulation of free copies.
A total of 53 daily titles reported for the January to June 2022 period, with some newspapers including the Blackpool Gazette and the Edinburgh Evening News now only reporting annually in February.
The full list of regional dailies in order of paid-for circulation decrease is below.
| Title | Jan-Jun 2022 | Jan-Jun 2023 | YoY pc change |
| Irish News | 27,096 | 25,010 | -7.70% |
| The Scotsman | 9,141 | 8,249 | -9.76% |
| Aberdeen Evening Express | 11,464 | 10,117 | -11.75% |
| Dundee Evening Telegraph | 6,959 | 6,089 | -12.50% |
| Aberdeen Press & Journal | 28,482 | 24,852 | -12.74% |
| Dundee Courier | 22,168 | 19,264 | -13.10% |
| The Leader, North Wales | 3,757 | 3,251 | -13.47% |
| Bolton News | 4,720 | 4,077 | -13.62% |
| Ipswich Star | 3,354 | 2,890 | -13.83% |
| Belfast News Letter | 8,374 | 7,213 | -13.86% |
| Yorkshire Post | 12,408 | 10,634 | -14.30% |
| East Anglian Daily Times | 8,348 | 7,144 | -14.42% |
| Dorset Echo | 5,230 | 4,463 | -14.67% |
| Eastern Daily Press | 16,413 | 13,907 | -15.27% |
| The Echo, South Essex | 9,563 | 8,080 | -15.51% |
| Worcester News | 3,456 | 2,904 | -15.97% |
| Swindon Advertiser | 4,795 | 4,024 | -16.08% |
| York Press | 6,705 | 5,600 | -16.48% |
| Bournemouth Echo | 6,913 | 5,772 | -16.51% |
| Lancashire Telegraph | 3,982 | 3,318 | -16.68% |
| Northern Echo | 11,321 | 9,405 | -16.92% |
| Shropshire Star | 11,998 | 9,914 | -17.37% |
| The Mail, South Cumbria | 2,995 | 2,459 | -17.90% |
| Southern Daily Echo | 7,726 | 6,335 | -18.00% |
| Norwich Evening News | 3,736 | 3,058 | -18.15% |
| Express & Star, Wolverhampton | 16,165 | 13,213 | -18.26% |
| Yorkshire Evening Post | 4,796 | 3,920 | -18.27% |
| Oxford Mail | 5,504 | 4,463 | -18.91% |
| South Wales Argus | 4,907 | 3,972 | -19.05% |
| Carlisle News & Star | 2,665 | 2,152 | -19.25% |
| The News, Portsmouth | 8,274 | 6,642 | -19.72% |
| Bradford Telegraph & Argus | 5,859 | 4,691 | -19.94% |
| Lancashire Post | 4,409 | 3,524 | -20.07% |
| Sheffield Star | 7,229 | 5,764 | -20.27% |
| Colchester Daily Gazette | 4,789 | 3,804 | -20.57% |
| South Wales Echo | 6,911 | 5,200 | -24.76% |
| Leicester Mercury | 9,383 | 7,022 | -25.16% |
| Newcastle Chronicle | 10,719 | 7,951 | -25.82% |
| The Argus, Brighton | 7,019 | 5,194 | -26.00% |
| Bristol Post | 5,807 | 4,294 | -26.05% |
| Stoke Sentinel | 11,855 | 8,763 | -26.08% |
| Cambridge News | 3,532 | 2,597 | -26.47% |
| Derby Telegraph | 9,013 | 6,594 | -26.84% |
| Liverpool Echo | 18,496 | 13,432 | -27.38% |
| Birmingham Mail | 7,795 | 5,643 | -27.61% |
| South Wales Evening Post | 8,608 | 6,184 | -28.16% |
| Nottingham Post | 6,491 | 4,570 | -29.59% |
| Paisley Daily Express | 2,729 | 1,890 | -30.74% |
| Plymouth Herald | 6,430 | 4,449 | -30.81% |
| Teesside Gazette | 8,177 | 5,640 | -31.03% |
| Coventry Telegraph | 5,492 | 3,681 | -32.98% |
| Hull Daily Mail | 10,232 | 6,813 | -33.41% |
| Manchester Evening News | 20,286 | 8,344 | -58.87% |
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