Return to growth moves closer for Johnston Press

The group’s total print and digital audience now averages over 27 million users a month – with total digital audience up 40 per cent year-on-year in September.

The group reported in an interim statement to the City yesterday that it was continuing to grow its digital revenues, reporting a 19.5 per cent year-on-year increase.

Meanwhile, it said mobile users are averaging 6.5m per month, double what they were a year ago.

The publisher, which also owns The Scotsman, said it was seeing economic growth in most of its markets and the growing strength in its digital business would help the company improve further in 2015.

Total advertising revenue decline has slowed – down 3.4 per cent in the third quarter compared to 4.6 per cent in the first half of the year.

Total revenues were down 3.1 per cent in the third quarter compared with 4.4 per cent in the first half of the year.

It said in a statement: “The group remains focused on returning the business to overall growth and has a clear strategy to achieve this aim, which encompasses driving audience growth, investing in new digital products, accelerating digital revenues and continuing to pay down debt.

“During the third quarter, Johnston Press has made further progress towards this goal, building on the first half performance. The decline in revenues from continuing operations has narrowed further.”

It added: “The digital revenue growth reflects a strong contribution from key categories including property, motors and employment.”

The Edinburgh-based media group said it expected trading in 2014 to be in line with current market expectations.

The company, which agreed in April to sell its operations in Ireland, returned to growth in underlying operating profit in 2013 for the first time in seven years.