It is an atypical journalistic object which has not left readers indifferent. Thursday, the magazine Society published on about thirty pages the first part of its major investigation into the Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès affair, which contains new elements. Four days after its release, the issue, with a print run of 70,000, became difficult to find at newsstands and newsagents.
" 3,800 points of sale are out of stock all over France ", tells Figaro Franck Annese, boss of the publisher So Press. Faced with this demand, a reprint of 30,000 copies has been scheduled and will go on sale from Thursday. The publisher does not yet know how many copies have been sold to date.
This situation is not linked to distribution difficulties. “ The number was well put together. But sales started quickly, suddenly, ”explains Franck Annese. The latter cites the example of a kiosk in the 11th arrondissement of Paris “ which sold 105 copies out of the 120 he had in three days. Another, in the 18th, had only 19 copies out of 90 this morning. He wanted 90 more for restocking. "
One issue on sale for two months
Many, too, have sold all their stock. “ It's frustrating because we are missing sales. A kiosk on the Grands Boulevards explained to me that this Sunday had 30 requests for this number, but he had nothing left. In an attempt to guide buyers to points of sale that still have the magazine, Franck Annese launched the hashtag #jechercheSociety on Twitter. “ If I could I would open a hotline, ” he jokes.
This issue of the bimonthly will exceptionally remain on sale for 56 days. The second part of the great story on Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, which should also span around thirty pages, will be released on August 6. “ Buyers of the second part must be able to find the first. We'll see if we need to schedule a third reprint. The circulation of the August 6 issue has logically been revised upwards to meet strong demand.
The attraction for this great story has also led to a sharp increase in requests for paper subscriptions, says Franck Annese. Society usually sells an average of 47,000 copies, of which 11,000 are sold at newsagents.
