1. Most American dioceses still prioritize print communication

Despite the digital age, 80% of Roman Catholic dioceses in America continue to produce print publications for their parishioners. This commitment reflects bishops' dedication to direct communication with their communities. The landscape includes 78 diocesan newspapers and 68 magazines, with a combined circulation of 5.4 million across the nation. This substantial investment in print media demonstrates that diocesan leaders still view physical publications as essential tools for reaching their flocks.

2. Magazines outpace newspapers in total circulation

Diocesan magazines represent 3,238,314 issues per year, while diocesan newspaper circulation totals 2,169,584. Of the top 15 circulation publications, 12 are magazines. Northeast Ohio Catholic, the magazine of the Diocese of Cleveland, is the largest circulation publication with 226,500 issues mailed quarterly to every diocesan household.

3. Magazines significantly outperform newspapers in household reach

When it comes to connecting with Catholic families, magazines reach 65% of Catholic households compared to newspapers' 42% reach. Even more impressive, 42% of diocesan magazines reach 80% or more of Catholic households in their diocese, while only 18% of newspapers achieve comparable coverage.

4. Magazines are far more cost-effective than newspapers

The financial advantage of magazines is striking: the average diocesan magazine from FAITH costs $8.07 per household annually, while the average diocesan newspaper costs $24.05 per household – three times more expensive. This cost difference exists despite magazines typically having more pages (32 vs 24) and higher production values. The savings come primarily from reduced frequency (8 issues per year vs 27) and more efficient distribution models. For dioceses working with limited budgets, this represents a significant opportunity to maximize their communication investment.

5. Magazine format better serves evangelization goals

While newspapers focus on timely news delivery with their average of 27 issues per year, magazines prove more effective for evangelization purposes. Most people now consume news online rather than in print, making the newspaper model less relevant. Magazines have a longer shelf life, making them more likely to be kept, shared, and used as evangelization tools by readers. With their focus on deeper content rather than breaking news, magazines align better with the dual mission of communication and evangelization that defines diocesan publishing.

Conclusion: FAITH Catholic partnership delivers superior results

Publications partnered with FAITH Catholic demonstrate even stronger performance metrics.

• FAITH Catholic is the publishing partner of 53 U.S. dioceses, including nine of the largest 12 diocesan magazines in the nation.
• FAITH Catholic magazines reach an average of 70% of Catholic households, with 30% achieving 100% household penetration. 
• Magazines from FAITH can be as much as one third the cost of a diocesan newspaper, while reaching a significantly larger number of parishioner households. 

This partnership model appears to optimize both reach and cost-effectiveness, suggesting that specialized Catholic publishing expertise can significantly enhance a diocese's communication outcomes.