The East Valley Tribune will be making an even bigger “investment in our communities” nearly one year after the newspaper was purchased by Randy Miller and partners.
Miller, the Tribune’s president and publisher, announced this week that the paper will be increasing its Sunday circulation by 50,000 beginning in March, bringing the total distribution to 150,000 in the East Valley.
“We’ll have over 100,000 new people reading the Tribune every week,” said Miller, noting that the number of readers is typically twice that of a newspaper’s circulation. “It’s really a huge jump for us. That will be a tremendous increase on the reach we have in our communities and for our advertisers.
“I can’t think of another newspaper in the industry that is doing this right now. Everybody else is tucking their head and scaling back. This increase gives us a much bigger presence and demonstrates our continued investment in our communities.”
Much of the Sunday circulation increase will occur inside the geographic boundaries of Loop 202 — in particular the cities of Mesa and Tempe. Additional papers will also be distributed in Gilbert, Chandler and Ahwatukee.
“The Tribune had moved away from its heritage in Mesa and Tempe,” said Miller, who took ownership of the Tribune on March 23, 2010. “But we’re going back.”
The circulation gains in Ahwatukee will be a joint venture between the Tribune and its sister company, the Ahwatukee Foothills News, which doesn’t currently publish on Sundays.
“I am excited to hear that,” Paula Casey, executive director of the Arizona Newspaper Association, said of the expansion. “It’s always good news to hear newspapers aren’t cutting back.”
The circulation increase is part of several other changes the Tribune is undergoing.
To coincide with the jump in circulation, the Tribune will be making significant content and design improvements in both the newspaper and website that are geared toward making the news more interactive and more focused on readers and what they are talking about.
In addition, the Tribune will complete the move of its office locations by the end of March. The circulation operations were moved this month to the Tribune’s offices in Chandler. Press operations are already located in Sun City. And editorial and advertising operations will be moving their main office to Fountainhead Corporate Park in Tempe by the end of March.
The newspaper’s current building in Mesa was not part of the sale of the Tribune, but the company will continue to maintain an office location in Mesa after the current lease expires.
“All these things together signify some dramatic changes with the Tribune and our position in the community,” Miller said. “We’re excited about it.”
soricobob posted at 6:01 am on Sun, Feb 13, 2011.
I don't know about anyone else, but when you open it up the paper is the perfect size for the bottom of the ferret's cage.
CrosleyV8 posted at 10:34 am on Sun, Feb 13, 2011.
I stopped the paper delivery years ago... it took several months to get the paper sales staff to stop calling me to sign up again.
Now , I read the paper online. If the paper decides to Charge a fee for online use, I will go to another online source
Poorman posted at 11:22 am on Sun, Feb 13, 2011.
I might have missed it but is that paid circulation,or freebies?
Accuracy posted at 5:09 pm on Sun, Feb 13, 2011.
The East Valley Tribune's circulation or average number of copies of a publication distributed (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday) in West Mesa is far less than all other East Valley areas. Compared to Gilbert Road, in Mesa and Gilbert; with Tribune paper distributed “free” at every bus stop and all Gas & Convenience Stores on Gilbert Road.
“East Valley Tribune's circulation to grow by 50,000” . . . maybe in parts of West Mesa also.
DrunkenMonkey posted at 7:31 am on Mon, Feb 14, 2011.
That means 50,000 more poorly edited, misspelled, inaccurately reported, one-sided newspapers in circulation...
Guess those new offices are really working out!!!
tazscottp posted at 11:44 am on Mon, Feb 14, 2011.
Congratulations! Get back to the "roots" of great community reporting and you will reap the benefits of loyal readers and advertisers. I would really like to see the community newspapers (Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe) with their own local news, the way it was before Freedom and Thompson destroyed the brand. Focus on "local".
Sweetpea posted at 4:00 pm on Mon, Feb 14, 2011.
I dont know where to find it now. How will I know where to find it mores readily with increased circulation?[thumbup]
FormerCarrier posted at 2:04 pm on Mon, Mar 7, 2011.
In another example that the Tribune does not want the truth out there, They deleted this last post. Shame
Here is something the Tribune failed to mention in it's Great Expansion story. I was a carrier for the paper until last month. That was when the Tribune made the decision to cut all carriers pay by over 30% even as they expand circulation, gain advertisers and are making more money, even as Gas is getting higher every day. The tribunes response to me when I asked why? Because of the state of the economy, they feel they can do whatever they want and we will have no choice but to take it. (That was the actual statement to me.) Do NOT support this greedy and evil company that hurts families to make bigger profits. Tell your friends to call the tribune and cancel delivery, tell advertisers you will not patronize them if they advertise in the Tribune. SHAME on you 321 communications. [sad]