-By Editor & Publisher Staff

CHICAGO July advertising revenue at the New York Times Co. fell more than 16 percent pushed by classified sales that plunged 30 percent, the company reported Tuesday.

Total revenue from continuing operations dropped slightly more than 10 percent compared with July 2007.

News Media Group advertising revenue was off 18 percent, mostly on weak print results. Every unit of the newspaper division reported across-the-board advertising weakness, with softness especially in the classified categories of real estate, help-wanted, and automotive.

Ad revenue at the New York Times Media Group, including its flagship daily, fell almost 15.5 percent on across-the-board decreases.

At the New England Media Group, which includes The Boston Globe, ad revenue plummeted nearly 25 percent

The Regional Media Group, including papers in the troubled Florida market, reported ad revenues fell 18 percent

Internet advertising revenues included in the News Media Group nudged up about 1 percent "as more moderate growth in display advertising was partially offset by continued weakness in online recruitment advertising," the company said. It added that to date in August online advertising "is trending up in the low double digits as display advertising at NYTimes.com has improved."

Advertising revenue at the About Group -- including the Web sites of About.com, ConsumerSearch.com, UCompareHealthCare.com and Calorie-Count.com -- rose 14.5 percent, the company reported, mainly on growth in cost-per-click advertising.

Total Internet revenue grew 2.5 percent-plus, with Internet ad revenue up 5.5 percent in July.