Times vs. Journal

A dispatch from The New York Times-Wall Street Journal war: According to Bloomberg, the recession is likely to increase competition for advertising revenue between the two papers, and the Journal is setting its sights on the Times’ clients. The Journal’s expansion of general news coverage and a new lifestyle magazine have attracted desirable luxury advertisers to the paper. Saks Inc. recently began advertising in the Journal, after buying in the Times since 1924. Dolce & Gabbana’s and Louis Vuitton’s parent companies also started advertising in the Journal. The Times, meanwhile, is expanding financial news coverage and Bill Keller can name more than 25 business stories where the Times beat the Journal this year. As of September, the Journal’s circulation had risen 2.4 percent to 1.4 million from the previous year, while the Times’ fell 5.5 percent to 858,985.