The Economist sees strongest annual subscriber growth

The Economist reported record subscriber growth, climbing 90,000 to 1.12 million in 2021, its largest-ever increase in a single year.

The publication also reported an operating profit of £41.8m, up £8.9m, or 27% on last year.

The Economist attributed the growth to new products. A new podcast, “The Jab,” analyzed the global vaccine roll-out. Digital newsletters, such as “Simply Science” and “Off the Charts,” expanded its footprint in areas of reader interest. And interactive data journalism covered many unreported aspects of the pandemic and highly engaging forecasts of the U.S. election.

“The commitment to faster product and tech investment as well as intensive collaboration between the editorial and business sides of the Group will ensure a continued rapid improvement in our digital capabilities and mean that our subscribers can consume our journalism in a form and at a cadence that suits them for years to come,” said Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, in a statement.

The publication recently launched Economist Education, a new online executive-education offering, a series of courses written and delivered by journalists from The Economist and aimed at business leaders.