While the newspaper industry has been struggling with print ad revenues, for most, online ad growth has tended to offer some consolation. But in its October revenue report, The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI) said that in addition to its October ad revenues dropping 9.9 percent to $181 million, its online ad revenues fell 4.1 percent to $14.5 million.

The company’s online ad growth was fairly anemic in Q3, growing only 1.4 percent; and in Q2, online ad revs fell 2.1 percent to $13.7 million.

Meanwhile, year-to-date online ad revenues were up a marginal .8 percent, rising to $140 million from $139 million t the same time last year. McClatchy chairman and CEO Gary Pruitt pointed to continued softness in the California and Florida real estate markets as the reason for the company’s struggling revenue picture.  Release

Journal Communications: The October numbers paint a better online picture for Journal Communications, (NYSE: JRN) publisher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and 44 community newspapers. While overall revenue fell by 10.7 percent to $39.1 million on ad weakness, interactive revenue grew 34.3 percent to $1.26 million, which is more in line with its peers. The company said its group numbers were dragged down by weakness in traditional categories and the absence of political spending. Release.

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