01Brush Paper Deck

Newsletter discovery is growing while print subscriptions hold steady

Quarterly audience study for a fictional publishing group

Northfield Review | Q2 2025 | Fictional sample
Brush Paper Deck01 / 09
02Brush Paper Deck

We will connect audience movement to a practical investment choice

  1. What changed this quarter
  2. Where discovery is coming from
  3. How print performance compares
  4. What to invest in next
Brush Paper Deck02 / 09
03Brush Paper Deck

Newsletter referrals gained nine percentage points

18%
Newsletter referrals, prior quarter
27%
Newsletter referrals, current quarter
42,000
Print subscriptions, current quarter
Brush Paper Deck · Sample figures, replace with sourced data03 / 09
04Brush Paper Deck

Newsletter referrals rose across the latest reporting period

Referral share
18Q1 202527Q2 202542Print subs.
TakeawayReferral share increased from 18% to 27%; print subscriptions remained steady at 42,000.
Brush Paper Deck · Sample figures, replace with sourced data04 / 09
05Brush Paper Deck

Newsletter discovery gained ground without a print decline

Newsletter referrals

  • 18% in Q1 2025
  • 27% in Q2 2025
  • Up 9 percentage points

Print subscriptions

  • 42,000 in Q1 2025
  • 42,000 in Q2 2025
  • No quarter-over-quarter change
Brush Paper Deck05 / 09
06Brush Paper Deck

Make the newsletter a clear entry point to editorial work

Ink drawing: a reader follows a brush line from an open publication to a newsletter specimen; no text in the illustration.

Brush Paper Deck06 / 09
07Brush Paper Deck
“
The strongest signal this quarter is not a trade-off: newsletter referrals grew while print subscriptions held their level.
Northfield Review audience study, Q2 2025 (fictional)
Brush Paper Deck07 / 09
08Brush Paper Deck

A focused test can turn discovery gains into a decision

Weeks 1–2

Select three newsletter-led editorial features.

Weeks 3–6

Test clear referral paths and record visits.

Weeks 7–8

Compare results with the previous quarter.

Next review

Decide whether to expand the strongest format.

Brush Paper Deck08 / 09
09Brush Paper Deck

Invest in newsletter-led discovery and review the evidence next quarter

  1. Pilot three newsletter-led features.
  2. Track referral share and print subscriptions.
  3. Return with results and a scale decision.
Brush Paper Deck09 / 09