A.H. Belo’s 2nd-quarter loss shrinks even as its advertising revenue declines

A.H. Belo loses less in 2Q but ad revenue is down

DALLAS — Newspaper publisher A.H. Belo Corp., which owns The Dallas Morning News, The Providence Journal and other papers, said Monday its second-quarter loss was smaller this year than last, even as its advertising revenue continued to decline.

For April through June, the company’s net loss was $171,000, or one cent per share. In the same period last year, A.H. Belo lost $7.1 million, or 34 cents per share.

Revenue slipped 5 percent to $121.6 million from $127.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

Advertising, the company’s main source of revenue, dropped 12 percent to $77 million from $87.5 million. Circulation revenue increased 7 percent to $35.5 million from $33.3 million, helped by price changes in Dallas.

The company cut costs for production, distribution, newsprint, ink and other expenses.

The main factor that helped A.H. Below shrink its loss was nearly $6 million in other income, which spokesman David Gross said in an e-mail includes a gain from the sale of a garage in Providence and other items.

The publisher’s shares rose 16 cents, or 2.2 percent, to close Monday at $7.37.