At the end of November 2020, total digital recurring support stood at over 900,000, up from 632,000 in November 2019, says the Guardian.
The breakdown of digital recurring support for the Guardian comprises:
- 352,000 digital subscriptions to either the Guardian’s premium apps or tablet editions (up 60% year on year)
- 548,000 recurring contributions (up 33% year on year)
An 11% year on year increase in subscriptions to print products helped to offset the hit from the global pandemic to newsstand sales. The group now has a record 119,000 print subscriptions across the Guardian, The Observer and Guardian Weekly.
In the 12 months to end of October 2020, the Guardian also received more than 530,000 single contributions from readers across the world.
Including print subscribers and single contributions, people have supported the Guardian financially over 1.5 million times in the last 12 months.
According to the publishers, the ongoing developments around the global coronavirus pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement as well as the Guardian’s climate pledge and its US election coverage have all been significant drivers of reader support.
Following the US election, on 4 November the Guardian also recorded its highest ever day for digital traffic ever - reaching more than 190 million page views and 52.9m unique browsers worldwide in 24 hours.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media said: “In this very challenging year, readers have come to the Guardian in record numbers for rigorous, trusted reporting that holds the powerful to account. From our series of sensational scoops to useful coronavirus explainers to our brilliant US election coverage, it is thanks to the support of our readers that we are able to keep our journalism open and available to all, not just those who can afford it.”
Annette Thomas, chief executive, Guardian Media Group, said: “It is an incredible testament to Guardian journalism that so many new readers have supported us financially over the last year. As we look ahead, deepening our relationships with more readers and growing our digital reader revenues will be central to the Guardian’s future strategy and long-term success.”
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