• May 1, 2001

Chicago Tribune readership, which gained momentum during the extraordinary news events of late 2000, has continued to grow during 2001 as readers turn to the Tribune for the news that most affects their lives.

The Tribune is Chicago's leader in readership. In the Chicago market, 45.6% of adults have read at least one issue of the weekday Chicago Tribune during the past week and 53.2% of adults have read at least one issue of the Sunday Chicago Tribune during the past month.

"Our recent redesign gives Chicagoans more reasons to pick up the Tribune every day and our increased consumer promotion reinforces our value," said Vince Casanova, vice president of Circulation and Consumer Marketing for the Chicago Tribune. "The two Pulitzer Prizes awarded the newspaper earlier this month underscore our commitment to excellence and the benefits readers gain by reading us regularly."

Chicago Tribune circulation increased daily, according to the latest FAS-FAX report from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the six months ended April 1, 2001. Overall, total daily circulation (Wednesday-Friday) increased 0.3% to 676,573, compared to the year-earlier period. Sunday circulation decreased by 2.4% to 1,001,662. Saturday circulation dropped 1.9% to 558,466. In Chicagoland, daily circulation increased 0.7% to 614,769; Sunday circulation decreased 2.1% to 918,436; Saturday circulation decreased 1.5% to 503,976.

"We continue to focus our marketing and sales efforts on our core readers and on the days that advertisers and readers value most," Casanova said.

- By Anya Khait. She may be reached at anya@mediapost.com