Oregon Newspaper Circulation

Oregon newspaper daily circulation changes for the two year period September 2008 to September 2010:

-15.6% Oregonian (283,321 down to 239,071)
-15.3% Mail Tribune (Medford) (28,884 down to 24,461)
-14.6% Statesman Journal (Salem) (44,614 down to 38,099)
-12.7% Register-Guard (Eugene) (65,375 down to 57,068)
-11.0% Gazette-Times (Corvallis) (11,559 down to 10,284)
-10.8% World (Coos Bay-North Bend) (11,502 down to 10,260)
-02.3% Courier (Grants Pass) (15,680 down to 15,317)
+70.7% Bulletin (Bend) (32,951 up to 56,258)

A big part of The Bulletin's gain is due to a promotion strategy bundling print and e-subscriptions (with both counting as separate subscriptions) that pushed its circulation up 33% from September 2009 to March 2010.  But, that growth has continued, and The Bulletin added another 28% just in the last 6 months

Circulation changes in the last six months (March - September 2010):

-09.3% Oregonian
-05.8% Register-Guard (Eugene)
-05.1% Mail Tribune (Medford)
-04.6% World (Coos Bay-North Bend)
-04.0% Gazette-Times (Corvallis)
-02.5% Statesman Journal (Salem)
+02.5% Courier (Grants Pass)
+28.2% Bulletin (Bend)

The Oregonian has hemorrhaged significantly more than other Oregon newspapers in the last six months.

Circulation numbers are from the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Track Your Vote in Oregon

You can now verify whether your county in Oregon has received your vote. Just fill in the information at:

https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do

I've put a link on my side bar under Oregon Blogs/Resources.

Kudos to Secretary of State Kate Brown for implementing this.

Rob Wheeler - First Rate!

Rob Wheeler

My parents got a personal call tonight from Rob Wheeler, running for the Oregon State Senate. He's doing personal GOTV. Really rare and really first rate.

I can think of only one other candidate who has personally contacted anyone in our family to ask for their vote in the past 20 years.

We have one registered Democrat, and in Democrat Multnomah County nobody has called from the Democrats (not even a robo call) to get out the vote this election.

Good for Rob Wheeler. I hope this effort puts him over the top to become state senator. We need legislators like him who keep in touch with the people. He's currently Mayor of Happy Valley and also an Air Force veteran (a big plus to our family).

Bend Bulletin Beats Oregonian in E-Circulation

The little Bend Bulletin (daily circulation 43,895 as of last March) is 18th in the top 25 in Electronic Editions circulation in the U.S.  From paidcontent.org:

The Oregonian doesn't even make the list.  In March of this year the Bend Bulletin didn't make the list, and the Oregonian was 23rd of the top 25 with 22,335.  Since the Oregonian didn't make the top 25 in the September, 2010, list, it must have lost e-circulation as well as print circulation, falling below the 19,739 mark of the 25th place Schenectady Gazette--a drop of at least 11% in the last six months.

The Bend Bulletin has been very creative in e-circulation promotion.

Oregonian Loses 1/4th of Its Circulation in Three Years

The Oregonian's circulation resumed its downward slide after an upward tick last March.

Since 2007 the Oregonian has shed a quarter of its circulation losing over 80,000 from the circulation base of almost 320,000 in September, 2007. Current circulation for the Oregonian is 239,071 for the daily (Monday-Friday). The Sunday is also down 22% from nearly 376,000 in September, 2007, to 292,800 currently.

Last March it appeared that the Oregonian might have stopped the downward trend when it showed a 5.8% circulation increase over September of 2009, of 249,163 to 263,600 in March of 2010. But, that proved illusory, and the decline has continued. The Oregonian lost not only the 14,000 gain from March (which included e-edition circulation of 22,300 added to the ABC general circulation figure for the first time in 2010) but dropped an additional 10,000 in circulation as well.

The loss is not surprising for a newspaper that leans left on reporting and editorials even though more than 40% of Americans describe themselves as conservatives and only 20% as liberals.

If the Oregonian would make even a good try at being even-handed, it might start to win back readers. But, its favorites are clear--even regarding Democrats and liberals. I stopped regularly perusing even the free online edition after the horrible treatment given to Hillary Clinton in the 2008 campaign. Obama was the favorite. Hillary Clinton was not, and it showed in the Oregonian's news coverage. Of course, the treatment is worse for Republicans and off the charts for conservatives. So, even my parents, long time readers/subscribers, have stopped taking the Oregonian.

Update: Here are the top 25 newspaper stats:

Top 25 Daily Newspapers – Mon.-Fri.
 As of Sept. 30, 2010
                                                 2010 Circ   2009 Circ
Newspaper                                  (Daily)       (Daily)        % change
WALL STREET JOURNAL . . . . . . 2,061,142   2,024,269     1.82%
USA TODAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,830,594   1,900,116    -3.66%
NEW YORK TIMES . . . . . . . . . . .  876,638      927,851    -5.52%
LOS ANGELES TIMES . . . . . . . . .  600,449      657,467    -8.67%
WASHINGTON POST . . . . . . . . . . 545,345      582,844    -6.43%

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS . . . . . . . 512,520     544,167     -5.82%
NEW YORK POST . . . . . . . . . . . .  501,501     508,042     -1.29%
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS . . . . . 477,592          -             N/A
CHICAGO TRIBUNE . . . . . . . . . . . 441,508      465,892     -5.23%
HOUSTON CHRONICLE . . . . . . . .  343,952      384,437   -10.53%

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER . . . . . . . 342,361      361,481     -5.29%
NEWSDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  314,848      357,124   -11.84%
DENVER POST . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  309,863      340,949     -9.12%
ARIZONA REPUBLIC . . . . . . . . . .  308,973       316,873    -2.49%
MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE . . . . 297,478      304,544    -2.32%

DALLAS MORNING NEWS . . . . . . . 264,459      263,810      0.25%
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER . . . . .  252,608      271,182     -6.85%
SEATTLE TIMES . . . . . . . . . . . . .  251,697      263,588     -4.51%
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES . . . . . . . . .  250,747      275,641     -9.03%
DETROIT FREE PRESS (e) . . . . . .  245,326      269,729     -9.05%

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES . . . . . . .  239,684      240,146     -0.19%
OREGONIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239,071      249,164     -4.05%
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE . . . .  224,761      242,693     -7.39%
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE . . . . 223,549      251,782   -11.21%
NEWARK STAR-LEDGER . . . . . . .  223,037      246,006     -9.34%

Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations

Wyden Throws Obama Admin/Kitzhaber Under the Bus

Interesting that in tonight's debate between Sen. Ron Wyden and Jim Huffman, Wyden went out of his way to emphasize how he's going to fight the Obama administration over issues and nothing about how he supports the President.

Wyden also said he would cooperate with either Kitzhaber or Dudley, whichever one became governor. Not a word as to which would be better as governor.

A lot of throwing under the bus going on in Democrat circles.

Two years ago who would have thought a popular Democratic senator would be touting his desire to fight the Obama administration rather than support it? That's the fallout of almost 21 months of failure in jobs and the economy--especially in a state with the 7th worst unemployment rate in the nation.

Decimation of Christian Communities in the Middle East

Where’s the media coverage? Where's the concern about whole communities being wiped out?

From NewsReal Blog:

Raymond Moussalli, Vicar General of the Patriarchate of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Jordan.

There is a deliberate campaign to drive Christians out of the country. Fundamentalist extremist groups have satanic plans against Christians, not only in Iraq but throughout the Middle East. … We want to make the international community aware that it cannot remain silent in the face of the massacre of Christians in Iraq, and to encourage countries of Catholic tradition to do something for Iraqi Christians, beginning with placing pressure on their own governments. We are experiencing a catastrophic moment, with the emigration of families and the loss of our people who still speak the Aramaic language spoken by Our Lord Jesus Christ.
[emphasis added]

. . .

Archbishop Boutros Marayati of Aleppo of the Armenians, Syria.

For the past hundred years, emigration or violent deportation have continued to occur from the East. … Are we waiting for the day where the world as a spectator amidst the indifference of the Western Churches will sit back and watch the ‘Death of the Christians of the East?’ Despite the crises and difficulties that face our Christian life and our ecumenical relations, we still ‘believe, hoping against every hope’.
[emphasis added]

Rubin and Wehner on Thin Ice Between Establishment and Separation

Jennifer Rubin (one of my favorite commentators) seems to be confused about the difference between "separation" and no-"establishment". She links to Peter Wehner's comments.

Wehner correctly says that the First Amendment prohibits the "establishment of religion", but does not seem to understand the difference between "separation of church and state" and "no . . . establishment of religion". On the basis of a press report (heh) Wehner thinks Christine O'Donnell doesn't know that freedom from government control of religion is in the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment does?” O’Donnell asked. “Let me just clarify: You’re telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?”

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” Coons responded, reciting from memory the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“That’s in the First Amendment…?” O’Donnell responded.

After looking at a 5 minute youtube video, it's clear that O'Donnell is mocking Coons' view that "separation of church and state" is in the Constitution. Three times she asks whether Coons thinks "separation of church and state" is in the Constitution. Never once does she refer to the no establishment clause.

Of course, "separation of church and state" isn't in the Constitution or the First Amendment. It is a theoretical construct used in political and judicial argument to try to spin out the meaning of the no establishment clause.

What's funny is that some of the people who loudly trumpet "separation of church and state" don't seem to understand that it's primarily a religious doctrine--held, for example, by Baptists in contrast to Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans (and Muslims) who think that state power is also a ministry of God legitimately used to support and defend the church. Separation of church and state got traction in western thought because people like the Anabaptists, Baptists, and Quakers were willing to suffer severe persecution to make the point that true religion cannot be compelled (which is what state action does) and that a church which relies on force is a corrupted church.

In fact the famous Jefferson quotation about the "wall of separation" comes not in response to a political debate on the Constitution or Bill of Rights (ratified in 1788 and 1791 respectively), but a decade later answer to an 1801 letter from Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut, who were suffering government persecution* because they were not part of the Congregational church (which was the established church in Connecticut until 1818). Jefferson based his argument for separation on "natural rights"** (called unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence) granted by God, the Creator. As such, it is a religious doctrine, but its inclusion in the Declaration and in the First Amendment (if one believes Jefferson) does not rise to an "establishment of religion".
-----
*Danbury Baptists: "Our Sentiments are uniformly on the side of Religious Liberty -- That Religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals -- That no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious Opinions - That the legitimate Power of civil government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor: But Sir our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter together with the Laws made coincident therewith, were adopted on the Basis of our government, at the time of our revolution; and such had been our Laws & usages, and such still are; that Religion is considered as the first object of Legislation; and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the State) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights: and these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgements, as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen."
[emphasis added]


**Jefferson: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of the government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore man to all of his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."
[emphasis added]

Sarah Palin's Alaska - Starts on TLC Nov. 14, 9 PM

Sarah's Alaska the Real Deal Green

Looks to be fun and the real deal green! A great combination.

H/T Oregon Guy

Silver up 37% in Two Months

Silver is up 37% in the last two months. August 24th it was $17.88 per ounce. Yesterday it was $24.49.

Gold is up 19% in the last three months. July 28th it was $1,157 per ounce. Yesterday it was $1,373.

Democrats Ahead of Republicans in Campaign Funds

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Overall, the Democratic party and its candidates still have more money at their disposal than their GOP rivals. In the closest 40 House and 12 Senate races, the Democratic candidate, on average, has twice as much money in the bank as the GOP opponent, according to the most recent fund-raising data. That's in part because many are incumbents who can more easily raise big money in advance of the election.
. . .
The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics said the Democratic Party and candidates had raised a total of $1.25 billion so far for the election. The comparable GOP figure is $1.1 billion.

Only in the spending of "outside groups" have Republicans won the funding battle.

In total, outside conservative groups—such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Action Network and American Crossroads—could spend more than $300 million on TV advertisements, campaign mailings and other efforts to elect Republicans to Congress this year. Outside Democratic groups, by contrast, plan to spend about $100 million on those activities. The largest labor unions say they will spend $200 million combined, but most of their focus will be on rallying union voters.

The spending by outside GOP groups is key because in the last three election cycles Democratic outside groups have substantially outspent their GOP rivals.

H/T Drudge Report

Why Do Liberals Hate Women?

Liberal columnist Kirsten Powers:

“What about saying that she’s a whore?”

No, I wasn’t eavesdropping on a Duke fraternity meeting. This was the suggestion of an aide to Democrat Jerry Brown on how to deal with his GOP rival for the California governorship, Meg Whitman.

Brown’s response? “Well I’m going to use that.”

Not anymore.

Once a tape of the conversation was leaked, the Brown campaign apologized.

While we, sadly, are all too familiar with the casual misogynistic comment, what perhaps is more surprising is where these slurs lately have been coming from—progressive bastions like the Brown camp, and liberal women.

Last month, liberal talk show host Stephanie Miller laughed uproariously when a female guest on her show said that if she ever met Michelle Malkin, “I would kick [her] right in the nuts,” and warned, “Wear a cup, lady.”

Charming.
. . .
Who needs misogynist men when liberal women will do the job for you, often sounding that shopworn theme that women GOP candidates are somehow inauthentic women?
. . .
Not that liberal men are much better.

Ann Coulter is often referred to as “Mann-coulter” on political blogs in an effort to de-feminize her. And MSNBC’s Keith Olberman once referred to Malkin as a “mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick.”

Anti-woman speech has serious political consequences.

Sadly, it seems, that sexist attacks do stick. According to a study, sponsored by Women’s Media Center, the WCF Foundation and Political Parity, and conducted by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, if men use sexist language to attack their female opponent, her support is likely to drop significantly. “Sexism matters,” Siobhan Bennett, the president of the Women's Campaign Forum and a former Democratic congressional candidate told Politico. “It is a prism that massively influences how we see these candidates.”
. . .
Politically, I agree very little with any of the conservative women mentioned in this column. But they have the same right as any woman to be treated with respect and dignity. Every time anyone—liberal, conservative, man or a woman—engage in sexist smears, all women lose.

Bravo, Kirsten!

For Oregonians If You Like Your Present Medical Coverage . . . Tough.

From the Oregonian:

Interview with Greta Van Susteren

About the 11:50 mark Greta stands up for Sarah Palin’s and Hillary Clinton’s intelligence and Joe Biden’s expertise. She also underscores what is wrong with the media: they prefer swiping at public figures instead of really getting to know them and learn from them. Greta's sense of balance and fairness is one reason why Fox is the most trusted television news source.



H/T Conservatives4Palin