TNAG-0186-FCO40-222-Special-branch-reports-on-Communist-activities-1969 — Page 10

Circulation and Readership

18.

Since the early 1950's when the communist

newspapers were estimated to have a combined daily

circulation of 100,000 copies, the communists gradually

built up their readership until in April, 1967, just

before the start of confrontation, the circulation of

the nine daily newspapers which they controlled stood

at nearly 350,000 copies. This figure rose even

further during the initial phases of confrontation,

reaching an all time high of 455,000 by the end of

May.

19.

The suppression of three of the newspapers

reduced the total circulation and, as people became

increasingly sickened by the blatant falsehoods

carried by the communist press, the circulation of

those remaining began to fall. It fell to 207,000 by

January this year but was given a boost when the three

suppressed newspapers started re-publication in February,

going up to 269,000. However, it then started falling

again, sinking to 245,000, where it remained for most

of this year.

Over the past two months it has started

rising slightly and currently stands at 265,000. A

schedule showing communist press circulation figures

since January of last year is at Appendix 'D'.

20.

The communist hierarchy are known to be very

concerned at the circulation figures and, in an effort

to improve them, the less doctrinaire newspapers have

now increased the space devoted to articles designed to

have a more popular appeal. With the onset of the racing

season their circulation received a slight boost as the

tipsters used by the communist newspapers offer a better

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CONFIDENTIAL