The Times
The Times is a UK based national newspaper published by News International. The Newspaper has a cover price of 90 pence and has traditionally been classified as a broadsheet. [1] To boost sales after a successful trial the paper moved to tabloid format in 2004.
History
(1981-Present)
The Times along with its Sunday version The Sunday Times was purchased by Rupert Murdoch’s organisation News International in 1981. The move was controversial because press baron Murdoch already owned tabloid newspapers The Sun and its sister paper The News of The World.
Rupert Murdoch moved production of the newspaper away from its traditional home in Fleet Street to new premises in Wapping East London in 1986. The move was designed to modernise production practices, reduce costs and perhaps more importantly remove the influence of the powerful Fleet Street print unions. The move away from Fleet Street and the trade unions led to the Sacking by The Observer of all sub-editors who also worked on The Times. The paper was banned from conferences by The Labour Party and boycotted by the BBC for 5 years.
In the early 1990s Rupert Murdoch imposed a 10% cut in staff costs, a 50% price rise and a ban on promotion. [2]
ABC and Readership Figures
The Times has an average daily net circulation of 600,962 according to the latest figures from ABC, these figures cover the period from the end of November 2008 to the end of December 2008. [3]
According to The National Readership Survey 88% of Times readers belong to socio-economic group ABC1, with the other 12% belonging to socio-economic group C2DE. 60% of Times readers are over 44 and 40% are aged between 15-44. The male-female divide amongst Times readers is 58% male and 42% female. This data was captured over one year from October 2007 to September 2008. [4]
