Merc circ up, Chron down

The Mercury News reported a 1.7% increase in its weekday circulation, bucking the trend of most large metro dailies, according to figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulation for the six-month period ending March 31. On the other hand, the Chronicle lost 4.2% on weekdays and 3.0% on Sundays.

On weekdays, the Merc added 3,902 copies, increasing its circulation from 230,870 to 234,772. On Sunday, the Merc gained 190 copies, increasing its circulation from 251,666 to 251,856.

The Chonicle's weekday circulation fell by 16,291 copies from 386,564 to 370,345. On Sunday, the Chron went from 438,006 to 424,603, a decrease of 13,403.

E&P has a list of circulation figures for the top 25 papers. The big story is that The New York Times lost 9.2% of its Sunday circulation to 1,476,400. The paper's daily circulation declined 3.8% to 1,077,256.

In Orange County, the Register announced Monday that it was laying off between 80 and 90 employees, or 5 percent of its workforce. As many as 16 longtime reporters and editors were being fired, insiders told the LA Times.

The Register announced the cuts the same day as ABC figures showed its weekday circulation had fallen 11.9% to 250,724 and 5.3% to 311,982 on Sundays.

The move dropped the Register from California's third-largest daily newspaper to fifth. The top five are:

1. LA Times, 773,884, down 5.1%
2. SF Chronicle, 370,345, down 4.2%
3. San Diego Union-Tribune, 288,669, down 2.6%
4. Sacramento Bee, 268,755, down 3.7%
5. OC Register, 250,724, down 11.9%