St. Louis Post-Dispatch Halts Monday Edition Amid Declining Subscriptions
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Goes Digital on Mondays to Expand Resources and Reach
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Ends Monday Print Edition
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has announced a significant change in its publishing schedule, with the cessation of the Monday print edition starting November 3. In a note on Emegypt’s website, Executive Editor Alan Achkar explained that this decision aims to better allocate resources toward the products most utilized by readers. He emphasized that the commitment to delivering quality local news remains steadfast.
Impact on Subscribers and Digital Growth
The shift reflects a broader trend in the newspaper industry, as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has experienced a dramatic decrease in its print subscriber base. According to the Alliance for Audited Media, weekly print subscriptions have plummeted by 91% from 281,461 in 2005 to 24,263 in 2024. Similarly, the Sunday edition saw subscriptions fall from 437,311 in 2005 to just 37,139 in 2024. During the same period, digital subscriptions expanded approximately 1,100%, though they still represent less than one-fifth of the 2005 print subscriber numbers.
Lee Enterprises Embraces Digital Sustainability
Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Post-Dispatch, is steering its focus towards digital solutions. The company has reported that over 50% of its revenue now stems from digital avenues, which they term “digital sustainability.” Despite this growth, Lee Enterprises recently reported financial challenges, revealing a net loss of $2 million and outstanding debt totaling $455 million in their third-quarter report. In May, the organization disclosed $2 million in expenses following a cybersecurity incident in February.
Cost-Saving Measures and Organizational Changes
The move to digital Mondays is part of a larger series of cost-saving strategies. Recently, the Post-Dispatch closed its food magazine, Feast, resulting in staff reductions. Earlier this year, the newspaper also ceased operations at its printing press, leading to 72 job losses, and outsourced its printing processes. These changes followed the layoff of six newsroom employees.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke contributed additional reporting to this development. This article has been updated to include 2024 subscription statistics.
