How Metro got smaller

Published Mar 31 2008, 08:24 PM by Adam Reilly

Oskar Bjorner didn't want to talk today, either. But Boston Magazine blogger Amy Derjue got Metro Boston's marketing manager to weigh in, along with someone from the Certified Audit of Circulations (CAC). And the explanation for Metro's plummeting circulation seems to be this: Metro said more people were picking up its paper than really were.

Derjue also quotes Herald editor Kevin Convey, who's more than happy to kick Metro while they're (it's?) down:

The final issue, I suppose, is whether one can ever fairly compare the circulation of a free paper with a paid one. I think the answer is no. I would tell you this much with certainty, however: If economics were ever to permit us to go free we would give away one hell of a lot more papers than the Metro has managed to do during its lifetime.

Oskar?