The Guardian says it has more than doubled its regular paying supporter base in the past 12 months. Approximately 80% of these supporters take digital subscriptions or memberships, with the remaining 20% subscribing to Guardian News and Media’s (GNM) print publications.
In mid-2016 the Guardian began offering readers the option to make one-off contributions to support its journalism. In the last 12 months it has received more than 300,000 individual contributions from readers in over 140 countries, resulting in revenue of several million pounds.
The Guardian first launched membership in the UK in 2014, launching the offering in the US in 2015 and Australia in 2016.
As part of a three 3-year strategy launched in 2016, the Guardian is focused on growing reader revenues. A key goal of the strategy, say the publishers, is for Guardian News & Media to break even at operating level by 2018-19, helping to safeguard Guardian journalism in perpetuity.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media, said: “Now more than ever, the world needs progressive journalism that is committed to facts. The most important relationship the Guardian has is with its readers, so we are encouraged and cheered by the hundreds of thousands of people supporting Guardian journalism.
“We must continue to earn our readers’ trust and support - which will will be the bedrock of our future success and sustainability.”
David Pemsel, CEO, Guardian Media Group, said: “Building deeper relationships with our readers has been a critical part of our three-year strategy and we are pleased with how this is progressing so far.
“We cannot be complacent, and we have much more to do. Over the next two years we will continue to establish firm foundations which will secure the Guardian’s financial and editorial independence in perpetuity.”
