ANOTHER month, another set of depressing sales figures for the Daily Record. The gap with the 10p Scottish Sun is now around 34,000 in actively purchased sales, up from 26,000 the month before. Industry sources claim that the PM editions of the Record are just selling 6000 copies a day. The company denies this but won't give a figure.

The one mitigating factor is that the annual percentage decline of the Record has stayed broadly the same in recent months, but that won't bring much comfort at Central Quay as the winter sets in.

MAKEOVER MEANS BETTER FIGURES

Over at The Scotsman, the sales figures for editor Mike Gilson's first full month in charge show a glimmer of promise. Sales are down 8-per cent to 53,543, but the year-onyear decline is around 4500 compared to 7300 in the month before he took over.

With features next in line for a major makeover, possibly organised into a oneday package rather than across the week, we await the next figures with interest.

TRIAL AND ERROR

Staying with The Scotsman, it had its digital fingers burned over a piece about the Kriss Donald trial recently. At the foot of a story in the online edition, it seems readers were asked to comment on whether they thought those accused were guilty as charged. One reader promptly questioned whether this was de rigeur during a live trial. But before anything could be changed, the piece came up against another eager reader. Alas for those in Barclay House, this was none other than Lord Uist, trial judge in the case. Suffice to say it did not stay on scotsman. com for long.

NEW STEER FOR SCOT GEAR

STV presenter Stephen Jardine is the frontman for a new motoring show said to be in the pipeline at SMG. It seems the management is particularly pleased with the show because an unnamed sponsor is paying for the entire production. That way they get to have Scot Gear and secret financial covenants at the same time.

Speaking of Jardine, we also hear that patchy political programme Sunday Live is being put to the sword after only one series. Given that it originally appeared in January, who knows how the nation will now survive the Post-Christmas lull?

THAT RUN-DOWN FEELING

Speaking of Sunday political programmes, we are sorry to hear about Andrew Marr's troubles. A lifetime of long-distance running has ruptured one of his tendons, which sounds darned painful. He won't be walking until at least Christmas and he's unlikely to run again. No more anecdotes like the one that had him running around the park by his house in London to be called back urgently by his wife blowing a whistle because the Today programme wanted him to analyse some political issue down the telephone.

Perhaps Stephen Jardine has the right idea sticking with four wheels.

LEARNING TO INSERT THEMSELVES

Over at Scotland on Sunday, owner Johnston Press has come up with an interesting money-saving wheeze. Instead of paying newsagents to insert the Spectrum and Review sections into the papers every week, it is doing this in-house. One estimate suggests this could save GBP100,000 a year.

SEARCH FOR A TWIST IN THE TALE

Edinburgh ad agency Story has a problem with its name. Much as the bosses like it, it doesn't show up easily on internet searches.

MD Sue Mullen says: "We would never change our name, but we to be creative about it." Watch this space for updates.

Meanwhile, account director Lesley Dick has been promoted to the board. Congrats.