Redesigned websites and the success of its “Find It” business directory have boosted digital revenues at Johnston Press, the Edinburgh-based publisher of The Scotsman.
However, the publisher saw an 8% decline in print and advertising revenue over the second half of the year so far, offset slightly by continued growth of digital revenue.
The decline follows a 10 per cent drop over the first half of the year.
Digital revenue was the only sector to see a year-on-year increase, up 4.4. per cent after returning to year-on-year growth in May. Despite the turnaround in May, digital revenues fell 5 per cent overall in the first half the year, a loss of £500,000.
The company credited increased display revenue for the growth following a revamp of its websites, as well as a new “find it” option in its Business Directory.
The group, which publishes the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday and more than 300 regional titles, said today that its largest revenue stream, display advertising, fell a relatively modest 3.4 per cent over the period, in line with the first half of the year.
Employment revenue continues to suffer worse, according to the report, although there was some slowing of the decline from 30.4 per cent in the first half of the year to 19.2 per cent in the second.
Overall circulation fell 1.6 per cent over the period, according to the report, performing fractionally better than the first half of the year when it declined by 1.8 per cent.
Former Microsoft and BBC Online boss Ashley Highfield joined the group as chief executive on 1 November.