Circulation

Within the context of journalism, the term circulation has traditionally referred to the number of printed newspaper copies issued by a specific news publisher. As such, it was an important measure both for the sale of advertising and for social impact. In addition to a material process of dissemination, such as the paperboys’ rounds and the single-issue sales at the news agent, the term thus arguably also carried undertones related to content becoming socially significant through circulation. Linked to that, another and related measure [Page 316]was also important, namely that of readership.Circulation numbers were for the most part of the 20th century the main so-called currency connecting news publishers and advertisers. In relation to this, the formation of the Audit Bureau of Circulation in the ...