reach plc said tuesday that pretax profit for its first half rose reflecting an onyear reduction in adjusted items the uk media company said that for the 26 weeks to june 26 pretax profit was 320 million pounds 385 million compared with gbp257 million last year revenue for the period was gbp2974 million compared with gbp3023 million a year earlier as print fell 39 but digital revenue growth was 54 adjusted items for the period was gbp127 million compared with gbp403 million a year earlier the macroenvironment is presenting challenges but the company has moved to address headwinds and expects the further cost efficiencies and cover price increases to mitigate the impact of newsprint inflation and reduced advertiser demand chief executive jim mullen said the company sees an onyear improvement in total operating costs during the second half the board declared an interim dividend of 288 pence a share up 47 compared with a year earlier