Two big California newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times, were able to raise their Sunday circulations. The Chronicle increased its coverage by 2.2% compared to last year adding 18,137 home- delivery subscribers to their customers, while the Times gained 0,7% recording their best Sunday results in eight years.

"Today when many people perceive that you can get free content anywhere, our loyal subscribers continue to recognize the value of the unique and exclusive content found in the San Francisco Chronicle", said the newspaper’s Vice President of Circulation, Chris Blaser.

The rise in the circulation of the newspaper was attributed to an expanded coverage of local news, including sports, entertainment and arts, as well as improved promotion, reader recruitment and enhanced digital services.

The Times experienced a boost because the publication won two Pulitzer Prizes for their coverage of Bell city’s municipal pay scandal and for their outstanding public service. Still, The Chronicle is the most read newspaper in the Bay Area, reaching 1.3 million of the 1.8 million-strong weekly audience.

For 17 of the top 25 American newspapers daily circulation fell. The Los Angeles Times recorded declining figures for their daily publication. The San Francisco Chronicle was able to increase its day-to-day circulation by 5% against the odds.

Industry analyst John Morton added that the new figures were also made possible by a relaxing of previous standards that allowed it to count unpaid distribution as circulation. “It’s a way of trying to make the industry look better but it's also a recognition that the industry has changed”, the expert said.