What is a Newspaper of General Circulation for Legal ads

As if your job isn’t hard enough, now you have to find how what papers are acceptable for placing your legal ad.  You might think that all papers would be considered a newspaper of general circulation and written in the language that is most commonly spoken in that areas. While this is standard it may not actually always be the case.  When advertisements are placed in newspapers of general circulation for public or legal notices, as well as advertising placed for Immigration placement requirements there are some requirements that a newspaper must meet.

What is a Newspaper of General Circulation?

Outside of the newspaper industry and in conjunction with legal ads or immigration ads,   it is not a term that is widely used or even understood by people outside of the Newspaper industry.   

This terminology generally coincides with the placement of legal or public notices as well as the placement of immigration ads.

The term “Newspaper of general circulation” refers to a newspaper that the general public would typically turn to for news updates, editorial opinions, and advertisements. This makes it more likely that official notices or advertising will reach a wider audience.

When used, a newspaper of general circulation refers to a paper that is intended for general distribution.  Additionally, it is made accessible to the public to ensure that they are kept informed about the on-goings within the ad. By definition, there are certain criteria that a newspaper must meet to be considered as such.

A  newspaper that is considered to be one of general circulation is, by definition, one that is issued daily or no less than once a week issued at least once a week sold for a fixed rate to subscribers, and holds a second-class mailing permit from the United States.  Free papers are not considered a suitable substitute for ads that are required to be placed in a publication of general circulation, and publications should have at least four pages and a minimum of five columns.

In addition to this criteria, a newspaper of general circulation must publish news of general interest or of a general character to the public. This includes news pertaining to social affairs and political, commercial, and religious interests. 

For more information about Newspapers of General Circulation or how to place a legal ad, contact us!

List of Newspapers of General Circulation in the United States 

Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) 120,632
Journal Gazette/News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 121,475
Daily News (Philadelphia) 123,483
News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 125,754
Republican (Springfield, Mass.) 125,864
La Opinion (Los Angeles) 128,553
Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) 133,787
News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) 134,865
News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) 137,730
Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.) 138,675
State (Columbia, S.C.) 140,362
Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.) 141,019
Eagle (Wichita, Kans.) 143,948
Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.) 148,301
Wisconsin State Journal/Capital Times (Madison, Wis.) 148,489
Journal (Albuquerque) 149,455
Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) 150,936
Tribune/Deseret News (Salt Lake City) 151,422
News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) 152,945
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.) 153,291
Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) 158,013
Advertiser (Honolulu) 160,723
Blade (Toledo, Ohio) 167,686
Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 168,393
Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) 168,645
Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) 170,870
Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.) 173,064
News (Birmingham, Ala.) 180,451
Press (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 182,810
Bee (Fresno, Calif.) 183,744
Daily News (Los Angeles) 187,740
Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) 189,000
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) 190,613
Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) 199,723
Record (Hackensack, N.J.) 206,086
Investors’ Business Daily (Los Angeles) 210,708
Post (W. Palm Beach, Fla.) 211,697
News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) 213,878
Commercial Appeal (Memphis) 216,705
Journal (Providence, R.I.) 218,388
Review-Journal (Las Vegas) 219,228
Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) 219,595
Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.) 219,660
Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) 222,392
Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) 225,730
American-Statesman (Austin, Tex.) 228,619
Herald (Boston) 230,344
World-Herald (Omaha, Neb.) 231,115
Tennessean (Nashville) 236,563
Register (Des Moines, Iowa) 240,912
Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) 251,565
Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) 263,373
Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) 271,920
Courant (Hartford, Conn.) 272,918
News (Buffalo, N.Y.) 273,177
Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) 274,125
Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, Ark.) 275,991
Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) 287,505
Enquirer/Post (Cincinnati) 293,151
Tribune & Times (Tampa, Fla.) 309,916
Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Tex.) 322,824
Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) 330,993
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 339,728
Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) 341,025
Express-News (San Antonio, Tex.) 342,709
Star (Indianapolis) 347,217
Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) 352,510
Register (Orange County, Calif.) 354,632
Star (Kansas City, Mo.) 367,712
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 373,980
Oregonian (Portland) 384,729
Herald (Miami) 390,171
Sun (Baltimore) 401,918
Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee) 405,355
Union-Tribune (San Diego) 408,392
Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) 422,410
Post-Dispatch (St. Louis) 423,291
Times/Post-Intelligencer (Seattle) 435,581
Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 450,875
Chronicle (San Francisco) 451,504
Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) 488,825
Arizona Republic (Phoenix) 556,465
Journal-Constitution (Atlanta) 561,405
Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) 599,628
Globe (Boston) 604,068
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) 606,698
Morning News (Dallas) 649,709
News/Free Press (Detroit) 669,315
New York Post (New York, N.Y.) 691,420
Chronicle (Houston) 692,557
Post/Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 704,806
Inquirer (Philadelphia) 705,965
Daily News (New York, N.Y.) 795,153
Tribune (Chicago) 957,212
Post (Washington, DC) 960,684
Times (Los Angeles) 1,231,318
New York Times (New York, N.Y.) 1,683,855
Wall Street Journal (New York, N.Y.) 2,058,342
USA Today (Arlington, Va.) 2,528,437
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